The third annual Astronomy Day event at Town Creek Indian Mound will take place Saturday, May 2.

This all-day event will allow for observation of the sun during the day and stargazing later that night. The daytime activities will occur from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the site reopening for the night sky viewing at 8 p.m.

Fun activities throughout the day will include viewing the surface of the sun through the site's 12-inch Dobsonian telescope, free handouts and coloring books for children, and a display explaining various aspects of astronomy. Movies about astronomy will be playing throughout the day in the auditorium. These movies will highlight topics such as exploring the planet Mars, hunting for comets and asteroids, and searching for the age of the universe. A special program called "Cosmic Collisions," narrated by Robert Redford, will explain how collisions of various objects in space throughout time have affected our world and will shape our universe for millions of years to come.

Once the sun sets and the sky has darkened, staff will set up two telescopes for the nighttime observations. Participants will be able to view the planets Saturn and Mercury, observe the moon at first quarter, learn about prominent constellations, and study various deep-sky objects.

"May's astronomy program will be the last one until September, so you don't want to miss your chance to enjoy a nice spring evening at the Indian Mound," says a spokesman.

Astronomy Day was created by the Astronomical League as a grassroots movement to bring the joy of astronomy to the general public. This year's theme is "Bringing Astronomy to the People."

"This movement was created in the hope that people who have never had the opportunity to view the sky through a telescope will be able to see for themselves what makes amateur and professional astronomers so excited about astronomy," says the spokesman.

To learn more about Astronomy Day and the Astronomical League, visit www.astroleague.org. Astronomy Day is free and open to the public. Registration for the night event is required. To register, call 910-439-6802 or e-mail us at towncreek@ncdcr.gov.

The historic site is located on Town Creek Mound Road approximately five miles east of Mt. Gilead, in southern Montgomery County between N.C. 73 and N.C. 731. For more information on Town Creek, visit www.towncreek.nchistoricsites.org.