2008 Woodie Awards
Observatory opens Thursday
By: Kaley Norris
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Lifeline
Students can have a truly stellar experience on Valentine's Day.
The Brooks Astronomical Observatory will have its monthly open house on Thursday.
"It is quite inspiring to see is the moon though a telescope," said physics faculty Christopher Tycner. "You can see the mountains and craters that you don't see with the naked eye."
Sitting at the top of the fourth floor, the observatory's telescopes and observation deck allow visitors to scan the skies for planets, stars and even moons.
"It can be exciting seeing a planet with your own eyes instead of in a textbook," said physics professor Glen Williams.
Open houses usually are advertised to students in astronomy classes, but students also come with an additional agenda.
"I wanted to see the stars," said Detroit senior Shenee Combs during the observatory's January open house. "It's something you don't get to see every day."
For visitors on cloudy nights, there still are things to see. Williams gives a tour of the observatory dome and shows off the high tech equipment including a telescopic camera used for research by both students and professors.
"In the past, we have held special open houses for comets and eclipses," Williams said. "We also held an open house when Mars was unusually close to earth."
The next lunar eclipse will be visible on Feb. 20. However, the department has not decided whether the observatory will be open for the event.
Future open houses will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 11 on Thursday, March 13 and April 10.
Tycner said Saturn and its rings should be visible during the March and April open houses.
news@cm-life.com
The Brooks Astronomical Observatory will have its monthly open house on Thursday.
"It is quite inspiring to see is the moon though a telescope," said physics faculty Christopher Tycner. "You can see the mountains and craters that you don't see with the naked eye."
Sitting at the top of the fourth floor, the observatory's telescopes and observation deck allow visitors to scan the skies for planets, stars and even moons.
"It can be exciting seeing a planet with your own eyes instead of in a textbook," said physics professor Glen Williams.
Open houses usually are advertised to students in astronomy classes, but students also come with an additional agenda.
"I wanted to see the stars," said Detroit senior Shenee Combs during the observatory's January open house. "It's something you don't get to see every day."
For visitors on cloudy nights, there still are things to see. Williams gives a tour of the observatory dome and shows off the high tech equipment including a telescopic camera used for research by both students and professors.
"In the past, we have held special open houses for comets and eclipses," Williams said. "We also held an open house when Mars was unusually close to earth."
The next lunar eclipse will be visible on Feb. 20. However, the department has not decided whether the observatory will be open for the event.
Future open houses will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 11 on Thursday, March 13 and April 10.
Tycner said Saturn and its rings should be visible during the March and April open houses.
news@cm-life.com
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