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The physics discipline and Physics Student Club conduct monthly public telescope viewings on the second Monday of the month, and additionally for astronomical events of interest. Please note that the weather conditions can influence observing. Check back here about two hours before your visit for updated information. Start times vary with sunset times.
If you are interested in visiting with a group, please contact the physics faculty at the University of Minnesota Morris, for example Sylke Boyd ( sboyd@morris.umn.edu).
Sunday, May 24, 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: A Tour of the Big Dipper
Sunday, May 24, 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: A Tour of the Big Dipper
Weather Alternative: Monday, May 25, same time
A waxing gibbous moon will offer views of craters, maria, and mountains. It will also make it more difficult to see deep-sky objects. Jupiter will still be up in the beginning of this observation period. Ursa Major will be high in the sky - let's take a tour of the Big Dipper!
As always, please check here before heading out if any weather adjustments became necessary.
Monday, June 8, 9:45 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Messier Tour for Beginners
Monday, June 8, 9:45 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Messier Tour for Beginners
Weather Alternative: Wednesday, June 10, same time
Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury have a little sunset gathering down in the western sky, which is why we will start a little earlier during dusk. Hopefully we can get a glimpse! The Moon will not interrupt our views with bright light, and so this will be a good night to view some dimmer objects. In nights close to the summer solstice, the night sky open away from the ecliptic plane and even out of the plane of the Milky Way. We can try to discover a family of globular clusters: M3, M5, M10, M12, M13, and several other open and globular star clusters. It will be the Messier tour for beginners. This one will require patience and dark-adjusted eyes.
As always, please check here before heading out if any weather adjustments became necessary.
Monday, June 22, 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Youth Camp and the Moon
Monday, June 22, 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Youth Camp and the Moon
Weather Alternative: Tuesday, June 23, same time
In this week, we are hosting the Kapemni Astrophysics Camp for high school students on campus, and this is their first observatory night. It will be l exciting in the dome, with many young space enthusiasts present. You are most welcome to join the fray! The moon will be a waxing gibbous moon, giving us good contrast of shadows and light along the craters and mountain ranges in its center face. Therefore, the moon will certainly be the most prominent object for this night. The summer triangle will be back in view, and we can explore the stars and objects in that region.
As always, please check here before heading out if any weather adjustments became necessary.
Monday, July 13, 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Deep Summer Sky
Monday, July 13, 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Deep Summer Sky
Weather Alternative: Tuesday, July 14, same time
A moonless night, the summer triangle in the zenith, several nice double star systems in view (like alpha Capricorni), Sagittarius bringing the view toward the center of the Milkyway up into the sky again? We can make this work if the atmopshere let's us do that!
As always, please check here before heading out if any weather adjustments became necessary.
Monday, August 10, 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: Venus and the Tea Pot
Monday, August 10, 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: Venus and the Tea Pot
Weather Alternative: Tuesday, August 11, same time
Another moonless night, with Venus at a 51% phase. If the view to the south is clear and unobstructed, we may explore the objects of the tea pot region, around Kaus Australis. Otherwise, we turn to the northeast, and welcome Cassiopeia and Andromeda back into our sky.
As always, please check here before heading out if any weather adjustments became necessary.
More Open Observatory nights will be available throughout late summer and fall.
More Open Observatory nights will be available throughout late summer and fall.
Please check back later for the schedule.
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