Astronomy Night – Mercury at Perihelion

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Join Dr. Lionel Crews from the University of Tennessee at Martin Astronomy Department and the Discovery Park education team on the Great Lawn for a special evening of stargazing. While the January Astronomy Night was cancelled, this event will now serve as the first Passport to the Universe program of 2026, making it a great time to jump in for the year.

With Mercury experiencing its best evening display of the year for Northern Hemisphere sky watchers, the innermost planet will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun. Mercury has the most elliptical orbit of any major planet, with its distance from the Sun varying by about 50 percent between perihelion and aphelion. This unique positioning offers a rare opportunity to observe the elusive planet shortly after sunset.

Upon arrival, please follow the signs and park in the north lower parking lot, then enter through the north lower parking lot gate.

Dr. Lionel Crews, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics at UT-Martin[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Passport to the Universe  

This event will serve as the first Passport to the Universe program of 2026. Be sure to bring your passport if you already have one, or pick one up at the event. Attendees who participate in five or more Astronomy Nights during the year and complete the associated activities will earn a special patch commemorating 2026’s celestial events.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]