Once a month a truly enlightening event happens at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma that will literally have you seeing stars. The park's Robert Ferguson Observatory opens its doors to the public for telescope viewing that is out of this world. You've got to get in your car to get there from the square, but the 20-minute drive is worth it. Starting at 9 p.m. in the summer when the sun's completely down, volunteer docents give you access to powerful telescopes: the 24-inch reflecting and 8-inch refracting. Spy dynamic star clusters like the Bee Hive; see Saturn up close (real close!) and learn about everything from star alignments to black holes in docent-led seminars occurring every half hour. Amateur astronomers—who know their stuff—form their own star power in the parking lot next to the observatory; peer into their personal telescopes and get all kinds of trivia on the solar system. One volunteer let us have a quick look at the moon. (Just glance though, it's bright!) That's some star treatment.
Visit Robert Ferguson Observatory's Web site for upcoming public astronomy dates. Admission is $3 per adult, and there's an $8 car fee.