Teaching our valley children to reach for the stars is now easier than ever, thanks to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory. Officially opened on March 25, 2018, the observatory provides integral learning opportunities for persons of all ages and education levels.
The city of Rancho Mirage, in their commitment to share all that the observatory has to offer with our community, went a step further and hired an official full time Astronomer, Eric McLaughlin, who oversees the observatory and provides unique, customized programming to our valley schools.
Through a grant from the Anderson Children’s Foundation, the observatory’s Connecting Children to the Stars Program offers free tours of their state-of-the-art observatory and library to all Coachella Valley fifth grade classes, both public and private. The grant includes the cost of transportation and development of programming for their Integrated Space Theater (A full-dome projection system which converts the ceiling above the main telescope into a portal with which we can explore the Universe virtually).
During the tours, classes explore a variety of features of the observatory. They get to explore the Cosmic Office which houses a variety of telescope equipment, space image displays, and (weather permitting) live images of the Sun from their Hydrogen-A solar telescope. While in the main dome, children will see a demonstration of the motion of the robotic 700mm (27.5 in) telescope and dome, as well as a brief video exploration of the universe using the Integrated Space Theater. While in the library, classes explore the depths of their imaginations and the tools housed to grow their curiosity. In addition to exploring the vast collections and children’s programs, students are provided with the opportunity for a free library card to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory, thereby encouraging them to continue learning, exploring, and imagining well into the future.
According to Mr. McLaughlin, “The Connecting Children to the Stars program gives students throughout the Coachella Valley a chance to step into a learning environment which not only exceeds the bounds of the classroom but also the bounds of this planet in an effort to stretch their imaginations beyond what they may have thought possible.”
Whether you and your child are interested in pursuing a career in astronomy and science related fields or are simply interested in learning about space, weather and time, the Library and Observatory provides the ultimate, invaluable resource. In addition to the school programs and tours, free tours are offered to the public Tuesday – Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Photo by Bruce Feagle
