The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule continues in January with the popular Museums à la Carte lectures, which take place each Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Admission is $4 ($2 for members of the Springfield Museums); visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch (cookies and coffee are provided). For more information about Museums à la Carte, call 413-263-6800, ext. 488. This month’s lectures include:

• Jan. 7 –  The Last Blasket King, Pádraig Ó Catháin, An Rí. A talk by Gerald W. Hayes, co-author of the book of the same name that he wrote with Eliza Kane, the great-great granddaughter of the last King of the Great Blasket near Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland.
• Jan. 14 – Why, How and the 343:  Better Angels, The Firefighters of 9/11. Dawn Howkinson Siebel, artist, creator of the Better Angels exhibit, shares her personal journey in creating this fascinating and powerful exhibit.
• Jan. 21 – Leaving Our Mark: In Celebration of the Pencil – Artist’s Words and Views. Steve Wilda, artist, organizer of Leaving Our Mark, will be joined by other artists featured in the exhibit, including Doug Gillette, Bill Simpson, Lesley Cohen, and Luciana Heineman.
• Jan. 28 – The Klondike Gold Rush: A Chicopee Man goes to the Yukon in 1898 (and back). Robert H. Romer, professor emeritus, Amherst College, brings to life the story of Chicopee’s John Gibson, an Irish immigrant who set out for the Klondike to seek his fortune.

As part of the Museums’ members-only “Continuing Conversations” series, museum docent Jim Boone will lead a guided gallery discussion immediately following the January 14 talk at the Wood Museum of Springfield History, and docent Pat McCarthy will lead a post-lecture gallery discussion on January 28 at the D’Amour Museum of Fine Art.

On Friday, January 8, the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will be open for public sky gazing at 7:30 p.m. as part of the “Stars Over Springfield” observatory series. These programs are organized by the Museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. Each event features an introductory talk on topics such as space exploration, seasonal sights of the night sky, current astronomical research, or upcoming events like eclipses or comet appearances. Stars Over Springfield programs are best suited for families with children ages 8 and older, however younger children are also welcome.  Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 17 and under. These programs are held rain or shine. If it is cloudy, a planetarium show will be presented in place of telescope viewing. For information about astronomy programs at the museum, call 413-263-6800, ext. 318.