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Stargazers from the Gifted and Talented elementary students met at Greenfield recreation park and looked at stars and planets.

On Tuesday and Thursday nights this week, John Goss of Fincastle, Larry Mattox of Troutville and Paul Harrison of Buchanan are local astronomers who set up telescopes for the gifted and talented program participant children at Greenfield.

Gifted specialists Karen Busher, Marcia Peters and Krystyne Bryant and numerous parents joined the students from all seven elementary schools. The stargazers viewed Jupiter and Venus, a planetary nebulae, Andromeda galaxy and various constellations were identified. A couple of shooting stars -- meteorites from the Orionid annual display -- blazed across the sky, adding to the excitement of the night.

The hands-on learning helped students visualize what they learn in the classroom.

Goss is a columnist with The Roanoke Times on the subject of stars, a member of the Roanoke Astronomy Club and a committed proponent of dark skies. He also offers an astronomy class at Greenfield Education Center.

Goss told the assembled group a worldwide starcount is taking place at starcount.org. Star charts are available online to see the designated counted area and patrons are asked to send in the ocunt of stars along with how they were viewed.

Said Mattox, "Something as simple as binoculars really helps identify the night sky objects."

Larry Mattox shows a student Jupiter