Both area families and students enjoyed the observatory's recent public viewing night.

BSC Observatory Holding Public Viewings

Posted on November 28, 2007 - Permalink
Audiences:

Looking at the stars is as easy as it is fun when one is equipped with a high-powered telescope. Luckily, the college's Astronomy Observatory is now open for free public viewings two Wednesdays a month, giving members of the BSC community and general public a chance to do some serious stargazing.

Mr. Joseph Doyle, an instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences, acts as curator for the public viewings. During each session, he lectures about all aspects of space and helps visitors operate the observatory's large telescope.

This semester, student employees Charles Harnden, a junior, and senior Christina Sechovicz, both physics majors, have been assisting the public with a smaller telescope located outside of the observatory.

Students Nick Anastasia and Diana Bates stopped by last month for the first time and each enjoyed the sights from the two telescopes as well as a look inside the observatory.

A trip to the observatory in the near future will likely be well rewarded, as comet 17P/Holmes will be visible into next month and beyond.

BSC's Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and External Affairs divisions provide the financial support for this program. The observatory is located at 400 Summer St. The next public viewings are Nov. 28 and Dec. 12. Private viewings are available upon request.

For more information, contact the program's director, Dr. Martina Arndt, at marndt@bridgew.edu or visit http://www.bridgew.edu/observatory. (Rob Matheson, Office of Institutional Communications)