Open House Nights at College Observatory


The Physics Department at Middlebury College

will sponsor a pair of Open House nights at the College Observatory

this summer. The Observatory will be open to the public for viewing

of the heavens on two Wednesday evenings, August 6 and August

13, from 9 pm until 10:30 pm, weather permitting. The moon will

be up both evenings, passing close to the bright planet Venus

in the western sky on August 6. Jupiter and its moons are also

well placed for viewing this month. The Middlebury College Observatory

has a 16-inch computer-controlled telescope equipped with an electronic

camera that can detect objects far fainter than can be seen with

the human eye. In addition, several smaller telescopes will

be available for observing the night sky.

The Middlebury College Observatory is located

on the roof of the Science Center, located on the Middlebury College

campus at the intersection of College Street and Storrs Avenue.

Enter at the north door and follow the signs. These events are

open to the public, and there is no charge. The Open House nights

will take place provided that the sky is clear. If the weather

appears uncertain, visitors may call the observatory at 443-2266,

after 6 PM on the evening of the Open H

ouse for a status

report.