Residents can embark on a tour of the night sky this summer with teacher and pastor Jonathan Rehmus.

On Fridays and Saturdays in August and September, Rehmus invites the public to discover the night sky through lore and science with free events in Colrain and Heath.

As clear skies allow, the first of these programs will take place on Friday, Aug. 11, at West Branch Cemetery in Colrain starting at 8:30 p.m. The next night, Saturday, Aug. 12, at 8:30 p.m., the same program will be offered at The Benson Place blueberry farm in Heath. The Aug. 11-12 programs coincide with the annual Perseid meteor showers.

Three more similarly paired programs will be offered — Aug. 18-19, Sept. 8-9, and Sept. 15-16 — at the same locations in Colrain and Heath. The September programs will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Rehmus noted the Colrain site is well-suited for those with mobility limitations. The Heath site involves a short walk into the blueberry fields to a ridgetop location.

“This gives people a sense of three-dimensional space,” Rehmus said. “It is not another screen. It is space we can grasp; it is part of the richness of our daily life.”

The programs, which are supported by grants from the Health and Colrain cultural councils, are great for all ages, according to Rehmus. Though the programs “focus on naked-eye observation,” Rehmus encourages people to bring binoculars if they have them.

Rehmus has been leading sky tours for community, school and church groups for 30 years. He studied astronomy at Amherst College and trained in astronomy education at the University of California, Irvine.

“Seeing the sky kindles my sense of being part of a much, much larger whole,” he said.

While laying on tarps with blankets over them for warmth, Rehmus leads attendees through tours of the night sky. The programs typically last about 90 minutes.

“It’s important to dress warmly in layers,” Rehmus advised attendees. “Your own blanket is welcome.”

Rehmus will teach about the scale of space; the orbits of the moon, Earth and solar systems; and Native American, Chinese and Babylonian celestial lore. Similar to seeing changing seasons through the leaves and plants, Rehmus will also explain how certain stars and constellations can be seen seasonally.

“It was a highly educational and rewarding experience, but also awe-inspiring,” Shelburne resident Jonathan Crowley, who brought his 9 year-old son to a sky tour last year, said in a statement. “Jon offers the community important and accessible knowledge to individuals, families and particularly children.”

Those interested in attending a sky tour should check the forecast for clear skies before coming. If those planning to attend have questions, would like to bring a telescope or would like an email reminder of the dates, contact Rehmus at revrehmus@gmail.com or 413-624-3025.

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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