For decades, groups have been gathering to gaze at the night sky during Morehead Planetarium and Science Center's monthly skywatching sessions.

The next one is from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday (June 27) at Jordan Lake State park. Typically during the two-hour session about 150 to 250 people will come and go to look at planets, nebulae, star clusters and the moon through telescopes and learn what they're seeing in the sky with their own eyes.

They can start as late as 9 p.m. in the summer and as early as 5 p.m. in the winter, depending on when the sun is setting.

Saturday's session will focus on the crescent moon and Saturn. Saturn is prominent right now because it's nearing the ring plane crossing period which happens about once every 14 years, I'm told. The rings will look thinner than they do in traditional photos of the planet.

Check Morehead's Web site each month to find out where the monthly sessions will be held. And, if it looks like the skies might be cloudy, check the site for an update on whether or not the session is canceled or call 962-1236.

Other parks in the Triangle also offer occasional skywatching sessions, including Eno River State Park, which is hosting a summer skies event from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday for kids ages 7 and up focusing on cloud types and formations. Pre-registration is required and the event may be full. Call 383-1686 to find out and to learn about other programs at Eno River.

Also ...

Learn how to preserve your family history with archivist Lisa Coombes from the N.C. State Archives at 2 p.m. Saturday (June 27) at the Raleigh City Museum, 220 Fayettevile St., in downtown Raleigh. She’ll teach basic archival techniques for storing photos, digital file naming and scrapbooking. Might launch a fun summer project with your kids.

See aerialists fly overhead and other acrobatic feats performed as the N.C. Symphony plays favorite classical masterpieces. The concert is part of the symphony’s Summerfest series at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (June 27).

Find out about summer safety from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (June 28) at Kidzu Children’s Museum, 105 E. Franklin St., in downtown Chapel Hill. Patty Rhodes, child care health and safety consultant for the Orange County Health Department will answer parents’ questions about heat and sun exposure, insect bites, water safety, safety during lighting and more. As always, Kidzu is free on Sundays.

And there's more on the Mom2Mom calendar.