09/18/2026
Weather update: Astronomy at the Beach is happening rain or shine!
Q: What happens at Astronomy at the Beach if there is unfavorable weather?
A: Absolutely everything _except_ telescopes field observing.
Presentations, clubs and organizations, nerdy science demos, etc. are all inside the tents. Bring your curiosity and your questions.
We know the forecast for Sept. 18 & 19 is looking mixed, but don't let clouds keep you home. Astronomy at the Beach runs regardless of sky conditions. If clouds or rain roll in and the telescope field can't observe, everything under the tents goes on as planned: the keynote talk ("Life in the Universe" with Dr. Dale Partin), the "How to Make a Comet" demo, Jeff MacLeod's Gemini rocket simulator, club and vendor tables, food from Civil Air Patrol Unit 437, and the DWARF mini Smart Telescope raffle drawing.
Clear skies just mean we get the telescopes out too — but either way, there's a full night of hands-on astronomy programming waiting for you. Come rain, shine, or clouds, we'll see you at Island Lake State Park!
