The Adams State University Observatory will host an open house from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Observatory (not Zacheis Planetarium). The Observatory is located on the north end of campus, off Stadium Drive, between the softball and baseball fields next to the Rio Grande. The event is free and open to the public.
Provided that there are clear skies the moon will be shining brightly providing a great view of the craters and mountains. There will be a camera attached to one of the telescopes for individuals to take photos of the moon. Please bring a flash drive to receive a copy of the photographs.
Parking is available on the west side of Stadium Drive or in a parking lot. There is no parking next to the Observatory.
On Monday, Nov. 11, the planet Mercury will transit the sun, in which Mercury will pass directly between Earth and the Sun. The community is invited to view this event from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. through telescopes set up near Richardson Hall. This rare occurrence happens eight times per century, and won’t again until 2023. The transit will begin as soon as the sun rises and last for several hours. Looking directly at the sun without the proper viewing equipment can cause serious eye damage. It is recommended to not use “eclipse glasses” from the solar eclipse of 2017, they have finite lifetime and may not be safe. Telescopes will be set up, with the proper filters on them between Richardson Hall and Zacheis Planetarium.
The event is weather dependent. If it is raining, or snowing, or the sky is completely cloud-covered, the event will be canceled. For more information email Matt Nehring, Ph.D. professor of physics, at matt.nehring@adams.edu.
