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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