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Galaxy Nights Brings Families Together for a Night of Stargazing and Community Fun

An evening of celestial exploration drew approximately 150 residents to the Janice Horst Branch Library in Lucerne Valley, where community members gathered beneath the desert sky for Galaxy Nights, a stargazing event hosted by the San Bernardino County Library (SBCL) in partnership with Avantus, a California-based leader in clean energy.

Set against the quiet majesty of the high desert, the event transformed the library’s on-site observatory into a gateway to the cosmos. Families, students, and astronomy enthusiasts had the opportunity to explore the night sky through professional-grade telescopes, thanks to Avantus’ generous donation of stargazing equipment. The contribution ensured a more immersive and accessible experience for attendees of all ages.

“We’re so grateful to the community for coming together for Galaxy Nights to make it a truly special night,” said, SBCL Events Coordinator Jenni McCormick. “We loved seeing families and kids get excited about space and science in such an engaging way. It’s these kinds of experiences that inspire curiosity and wonder in learners of all ages.”

In addition to stargazing, the evening featured educational partner stations hosted by the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Sierra Club and Desert Crossroads Garden Club, hands-on children’s crafts with a galaxy theme, and a prize drawing that added an extra layer of excitement to the evening’s festivities.

Guests also enjoyed warm beverages from Brew and Moo Coffee, a High Desert favorite whose presence added a cozy and welcoming touch to the night’s events.

Events like Galaxy Nights underscore the evolving role of libraries as community hubs—not only for literacy and learning but also for meaningful, real-world engagement in science and the arts. Through thoughtful partnerships and innovative programming, SBCL continues to foster lifelong learning far beyond the bounds of its bookshelves.

“We are proud to partner with the San Bernardino County Library to help enhance Galaxy Nights and get local kids excited to learn about science," said Jennifer Jackson, Director of Permitting at Avantus. “We hope the event provided an opportunity to see the stars and encouraged further exploration and curiosity around the educational disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

Avantus has developed over a dozen operating clean energy projects in California, creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities while delivering affordable, reliable power to California’s grid. Galaxy Nights is part of Avantus’ broader effort to support educational and community-based programming in Lucerne Valley and San Bernardino County.

For more information about the San Bernardino County Library system, visit library.sbcounty.gov, call 909-387-2220 or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

About San Bernardino County Library: The San Bernardino County Library system is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serve a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County Library strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

About Avantus: Avantus is a California-based developer of solar and storage energy projects, including the Sienna Solar Center, a solar project under development in San Bernardino County, California, near the community of Lucerne Valley. Avantus has developed over a dozen operating projects throughout California, which have created thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities and continue to generate tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue. As with all of the communities we work in, Avantus strives to bring positive change to Lucerne Valley through economic opportunity and local partnerships. For more information, please visit  www.siennasolarcenter.com and follow Avantus on LinkedIn.

Community engagement comes alive through diverse activities, from interactive learning stations and information booths to stargazing sessions under the night sky during the County Library’s Galaxy Nights.