September 28, 2000

Middlebury College to Host

Observatory Open House Night on October 7

The Event is Free and Open to the

Public

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—The Middlebury

College physics department will host an open house night—the

final one scheduled for the fall season—on Saturday, Oct. 7, at

the College’s observatory in Bicentennial Hall. The observatory

will be open to the public for viewing of the heavens from 8

p.m.–9:30 p.m., weather permitting.

The waxing gibbous moon will be

prominent in the southern sky, and Saturn should become visible in

the east toward the end of the evening. The new observatory dome is

equipped with a 16-inch computer-controlled telescope to assist

viewing. Several smaller telescopes will also be available for

observing the night sky. Cloud cover obscures visibility, however, so

the open house night will take place only if the sky is reasonably

clear. If the weather appears uncertain, check with the observatory

at 802-443-2266, after 5 p.m. on the evening of the open house for a

status report.

Bicentennial Hall is located at the

end of Bicentennial Way, off Route 125 west. When heading west from

Middlebury village, proceed through the campus on College Street

(Route 125) and past the yellow flashing light at the top of the

hill. Bicentennial Way is then the second right turn, at the foot of

the hill past the flashing light. There is a parking lot at

Bicentennial Hall. Inside the building, signs will mark the way to

the elevators to the top floor and the observatory.

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