Observatory

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South Physics Observatory

OBSERVATORY STATUS: The observatory is closed. Check back on 5-16-12 for our next star party.

As of 6:00pm 5-10-12

Call 58-SPACE (587-7223) after 8:00pm to verify status.

Clear Sky Clock:

The U of U Department of Physics and Astronomy conducts FREE public Star Parties every CLEAR Wednesday night on the roof of the South Physics Building at the University of Utah. Check the calendar for scheduled opening times as they change throughout the year. See above for information on whether the observatory is currently open or closed for that night. Occasionally it cannot be updated to call if the weather is clear on a Wednesday night. We will also hold solar observing during summer months in various location in the valley that will be held on a Wednesday preceding a public star party. Here is a link for the observatory's location. Parking is available after 6pm for free at most places on campus.

We give tours and star parties for scout groups and other public groups on weekdays and Saturdays (except Wednesdays). The tours and star parties are subject to weather and availability. Questions concerning these can be directed to our email observatory@physics.utah.edu. We now have telescopes available for travelling to off-campus locations for star parties with observatory staff for such things as K-12 schools. These are considered per-request and are left to the discretion of the observatory staff.

The Utah Museum Of Natural History at their new location has begun doing their physics and science demos once more. The Phun With Physics program will be held on the 4th Wednesday of every month in the free zone (the Canyon) of the Museum. The program is free but there will be a charge to walk through the exhibits as normal. The program goes from 4-6pm and as normal, we will have our doors open at the observatory on clear nights for those who'd like to come after the program ends.

Be sure to sign our guest log while you are enjoying the sky to be a part of the observatory's history and to help track attendance.

The current Star Party conductor is Paul Ricketts. If you have any questions about star parties please contact at observatory@physics.utah.edu.

For more information on the The University of Utah Astronomy Club and to become a member, please email uofuastronomyclub@hotmail.com. If you would like to join, please send your name, email address, major and year (for students), and if you would like, your telephone number. Meeting times will be placed on the calendar. A separate web page is up at UAC for the club.

Announcements

The Dept. of Physics & Astronomy and the Clark Planetarium will be hosting solar eclipse viewing on May 20. We'll have telescopes set up at the South Physics Observatory, Gateway Mall Fountain, SLC Main City Library, and the Dimple Dell Recreation Center. Come join us for free! We'll be open at 6 pm and the eclipse will begin at approximately 6:22pm.

The Dept. of Physics and Astronomy will be attending the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival again this year on May 17-20. Head down to Bryce Canyon with us to view the darkest skies with a bunch of telescopes from 4-20 inches. The Solar Eclipse will also be viewed at the festival. We'll also be travelling with the U's Engineering Dept.'s Robo Ute Club as they test their robot for a NASA Mars Rover competition and will be showing the sun each day as well as having demos at the visitor's center.

*It is not safe to view the eclipse or transit without proper solar filters. Irreversible damage to your retina may occur and the risk increases greatly when using a telescope.*

Come with us on the 5th of June to watch Venus transit the Sun for the last time this century! More details on the event later so check back!

See the image of the supernova SN2011gh in M51 taken from WEO on 6-4-11 here. This supernova has been visually acquired using our 14" SCT on 6-23 and 6-24.

Newest images from WEO as of 9-19-10 are here.

Check out the videos taken from the Willard L. Eccles Observatory with the Leonid bolide streaking across Utah here.