The night skies can offer us a mesmerizing look at what is beyond Earth – constellations, planets, moons, the sun. Luckily, Gateway Arch National Park can help you see the night skies more clearly while learning about astronomy and space!

For the past 12 years, the park has hosted Gateway to the Stars, a free stargazing series on the Gateway Arch grounds. Each event is free and open to all ages, and features an interpretive talk followed by telescope viewing of the moon and stars led by the St. Louis Astronomical Society (weather permitting).

This fall, you have a few opportunities to tour the night sky – check them out!

Saturday, September 18, 2021: Lights Out Heartland
Light pollution is a major threat, not just to our night skies, but to birds and other forms of wildlife. Representatives from the Saint Louis Zoo, Dark Sky Missouri, and the National Park Service will discuss what is being done, and what you can do to mitigate light pollution. This program will be streamed live on the St. Louis Astronomical Society’s Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 18. It will available to watch on their page on Sunday, September 19.

In addition to this online program, in-person telescope viewing will be held in the Gateway Arch West Entrance Plaza on Saturday, September 18 from 7-8:30 p.m., weather permitting. The moon, Jupiter, and Saturn will be seen.

Saturday, October 16, 2021: Ghosts of the Arch Grounds
On the present-day site of Gateway Arch National Park once stood a French colonial village, a thriving riverfront port and a warehouse district.  At 6:30 p.m., join Sky Ranger Rich Fefferman in the Arch west entrance plaza to learn about the adventures and misadventures of St. Louis’ historical figures such as Percy Green, Thomas Targee, James Eads and Kenneth Swyers, and how they helped shape the history and lore of the area.

Telescope viewing of the moon and stars led by the St. Louis Astronomical Society will take place following the talk, weather permitting.

Extra! Extra! Check out Sky Ranger Rich’s monthly blog, where he shares his knowledge of the stars and currently occurring celestial events. Also, be sure to visit Gateway Arch National Park’s Facebook page for Sky Ranger Rich’s monthly sky tour video.