Ever look up at the sky and wonder what you're looking at? Penn State's Astronomy Club and Department of Astronomy offer a chance for the public to climb to the top of the Davey Laboratory in order to get a closer look at what's in the sky.

From 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. every clear Friday night, people are welcome to stop by and get some hands-on information as well as look through five different telescopes.

The largest telescope is 24 inches and the smallest is eight inches. When looking through these telescopes you can see things such as a nebular, or a dead star, which looks like a doughnut when viewed through the telescope.

"The two most popular planets that people like to view are Jupiter and Saturn," said Chris Palma, a postdoctoral scholar in astronomy.

"Many people are shocked when they find out how clear the rings of Saturn show up through the telescope. People are faked out, they believe they are looking at a picture taken right out of a textbook."

Attendance varies depending on campus activities.

"If there aren't any games or concerts on a Friday night people will stop by just out of curiosity," Michele Stark (graduate-astronomy) said. "Most people walk past the Davey Laboratory, look up, and wonder what the huge domes are sitting on the roof."

Some people have walked up to the rooftop while a class was in session, Stark said, wondering if they could check out the domes.

According to Jane Charlton, an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics, the department has been doing stargazing for the public for 20 years.

The program has maintained popularity for adults as well as kids.

It is not uncommon for kids to tag along with their parents asking about their favorite constellations, Stark said.

"The majority of the time kids will watch a movie like Hercules and find out about constellations such as Pegasus," Stark said.

Movies such as these prompt kids to ask more questions when they come up to check out the telescopes. Kids are more excited about learning what things are when they have seen it before in a movie, Stark said.

From 8 to 11 p.m. tomorrow, the astronomy department is holding "Astronight" as part of Parents and Families Day festivities. Charlton said it is just like "Astrofest," which is done during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, except it is just one night and in the fall. Last summer the four-night Astrofest attracted more than 2,000 people, Charlton said.

"Astronight" will include stargazing through eight telescopes on the roof.

Short feature presentations by at least four astronomers on a variety of topics including images from the Hubble Space Telescope and other parts of the universe will be held.

People will be able to see demonstrations, take a tour in the hallway of the solar system and of a cosmic timeline, watch planetarium shows and take part in a question and answer booth with prizes.

With all these things to do, people are able to come and go as they please, Charlton said.

"It is definitely worth coming even if it is cloudy. The programs are lively and keep folks entertained," Charlton said.

As long as the sky is clear, "Astronight" will open once it gets dark.