Partnering with Springfield Township (Delco) Library

The August 26, 2026 astronomy program at the Springfield Library was one of the most meaningful outreach events I’ve ever led. About twenty people came out — kids as young as eight along with their parents — all gathered together to explore and enjoy the universe together. The librarian told me afterward that it was one of the best presentations they’ve ever hosted, and honestly, the energy in the room made it easy to believe.

The kids were incredible. They weren’t just listening — they were thinking, questioning, and connecting ideas. Their questions were sharp, curious, and genuinely scientific:

• “How do nebula get their colors?”

• “How do you know how far away star clusters are?”

• “Where do the names of nebula and galaxies come from?”

• “Do stars get cold?”

• “Why do galaxies collide?”

• “Are stars useful? (My favorite question!)

Moments like that remind me why I do this. When children ask questions like scientists, you can feel the future opening up in front of them.

We talked about how telescopes work, how gravity pulls things together, what different colors in nebula mean, and how we can photograph deep‑sky objects. The Seestar images were a huge hit — jaws literally dropped. The Celestron educational materials were so instructive and deeply appreciated!

And then came the hands‑on part.

I brought several telescopes: two Orion tabletop reflectors, my Celestron 102 on a tripod, and an “Amazon special” -- an example of what NOT to buy. Everyone practiced using red‑dot finders to locate Celestron stickers I placed on the far walls, then learned how to focus the scopes to get a clear view. After each person finished, I reset the scope position and turned the focuser so the next person could start fresh. It was pure STEM learning — tactile, visual, and empowering.

Now the application! After the lecture, we took two telescopes outside and each person found the Moon. Watching kids discover the lunar surface for the first time and then zooming in with the Svbony zoom eyepiece brings pure joy. Their excitement was contagious, and the adults were just as engaged.

The impact of the night didn’t end there. The librarian asked me to return for both a kids’ program and an adult program. A woman who works in a Philadelphia high school approached me and asked if I could work with their students. Absolutely!

Earlier in the day, I confirmed my next library lecture will be September 16th at the Sellers Memorial Library in Upper Darby. Also, I’ll be meeting with the Havertown librarian next month to schedule a date for that location.

If other libraries, schools, or community groups, want a program, in the Phila metro region or beyond, reach out!

Community Stargazers is growing — not just in followers, but in real educational impact across Delaware County and across the region. Nights like this, and the MKA Star Party, show what astronomy can do for a community: spark curiosity, build confidence, and bring people together under the same sky.

I’m grateful to everyone who came out, to the Springfield Library and Victoria for hosting, and to the companies whose equipment and support helps make nights like this possible. More events are coming, more schools are reaching out, and I’m excited to keep expanding this mission.

The universe belongs to everyone — and I’m honored to help people discover it.

Partnering with the Upper Darby Municipal Library

We are thrilled to officially kick off our collaboration with the Bywood Branch of the Upper Darby Municipal Library, supporting the community and sparking a passion for the cosmos with the creation of their new astronomy club!

Through this partnership, Community Stargazers provides hands-on equipment demonstrations and education on astronomy and astrophotography.

Thank you to Library Branch Manager Tianjia Wang, the amazing library staff, and everyone who joined us to make this launch a success! Clear skies!