At the center of our solar system is the star that holds everything together: the Sun. Get a closer look at this hot commodity on Sun Days, presented by the Springfield Museums and the Springfield Telescope and Reflector Society (STARS). The first Sun Day takes place on June 22 from 11 am-3 pm, and continues on the second Sunday of the summer months (July 13, August 10). Free with museums admission.

On the Quadrangle Green, attendees can view the Sun through filtered telescopes as STARS Club members as their guide. Inside the Springfield Science Museum, a live stream of the Sun’s surface will be transmitted from a special telescope in our rooftop observatory. This viewing is specially filtered to show prominences and other activity taking place on the Sun.

“Astronomy is not just for nighttime! With the right filters we love to view our closest star, the Sun, during the day,” says Jenny Powers, Director of Science at the Springfield Museums. “About every ten years the sun enters a new cycle of sunspots and this summer we are at the peak of this cycle with so many to see! The museum team and STARS Club members love to share these views with visitors and hopefully even spark new interest in astronomy!”

The Springfield Science Museum, founded in 1859 in City Hall, officially opened in 1899 in a classical revival building, expanded in 1932 with an Art Deco addition, and expanded again in 1970 with the Tolman addition that included a public observatory. In 2004, the Welcome Center was added to the Science Museum to serve as the main entrance to the entire campus. The Science Museum houses permanent collections of Natural Science, Anthropology and Physical Science. The Science Museum’s Seymour Planetarium consists of the historic Korkosz Starball, now the oldest operating star-projector in the United States, and a Zeiss full-dome projection system.

Sun Days are co-hosted by the STARS Club. MassMutual is the season sponsor of the Springfield Museums.