Latest Update:
Stargazing took place on Wed., May. 7, 2008
For further information:
e-mail Dr. Glenn Spiczak, Observatory Director, or call 715-425-3560.
Weather conditions necessary for viewing sessions: The sky should be almost completely clear, so take a look up before you leave home. The decision to cancel a session (or not) will generally be made by 4:30 p.m. to allow for adequate setup time.
Occasionally a show will be cancelled and the weather later clears, or clear skies will disappear suddenly before a show, so it's a best guess based on the latest satellite image and forecast. Check this site or call (715)-425-3235 for the latest update.
Feel free to check out the latest satellite images and forecast on Fox9 weather or use your favorite weather site.
Observatory
The UWRF Observatory is equipped with a 16-inch Meade computer-controlled LX200GPS mounted under the dome, three portable telescopes (two 12-inch Meade LX200 and one 18-inch Obsession Dobsonian) and a Coronado PST Solar Telescope.
Spring Sessions, 2008 (First clear night only)
Feb. 11-14
7:30 pm Talk: “The Best of Tonight’s Sky” (Matt Vonk)
8:00 pm Viewing – Saturn, Mars, crescent moon
Mar. 10-13
8:00 pm Talk: “Dieter’s Dream: Weightlessness and Space Travel” (Eileen Korenic)
8:30 pm Viewing – Saturn, Mars
Apr. 7-10
8:30 pm Talk: “Toys in Space” (Eileen Korenic)
9:00 pm Viewing – Saturn, Mars, new to crescent moon
May 5-8
9:00 pm Talk: “A Star by Any Other Name – Origins of Star Names” (Eileen Korenic)
9:30 pm Viewing – Saturn, Mars, Mercury, new to crescent moon
The Observatory is on the 3rd floor, Centennial Science Hall (CSH), at the corner of 6th and Cascade, near the new University Center. Sessions are free and open to the public. If you would like to be on our "stargazers" e-mail distribution list, send a request to glenn.spiczak@uwrf.edu.
For observing, use the outside Observatory stairwell near the south door of CSH to avoid disturbing the sky above with light and heat from inside (otherwise, use the nearby CSH entrance). If you need assistance or elevator access to the 3rd floor, please let us know (elevator keying is required). Talks take place in CSH room 271 on the opposite side of the building, closest to the north entrance.
What's up in the sky this month
(or last month, next month, etc.)?
- The lunar eclipse on Feb. 21 starts about 9:30 pm CST
- We have Feb. 29, 2008 since this is a leap year (occuring every 4 years, though not on century years not divisible by 400)
- Spy satellite "NROL-21 USA-193" will fall to Earth in late Feb. or early Mar. with some pieces surviving the fiery re-entry, unless it is shot down!
- Daylight Saving Time begins Mar. 9 (so be ready to set your clocks forward one hour, making the Sun appear to set later)
- Spring begins officially on the vernal equinox, Mar. 20 at 00:48 CDT
(including comet Holmes Nov. 2007) from the 16-inch with our new large CCD
Observing Tips
It is often best to arrive sometime after the start of a session to avoid long lines. In addition to the main telescope under the dome, one or two smaller telescopes will be set up on the observing deck. Each telescope will staffed by a physics dept. faculty, student, or guest astronomer to answer any questions. Stay and look at as many things as you like, and feel free to request your own observing targets. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather, since the dome is unheated and the observing deck is outside.
Recent Sessions and Some of the Objects Seen
December 10, 2007: (open, later cancelled due to weather): Talk at 7:30pm “The Star of Bethlehem”, Observing at 8:00pm.
November 12, 2007: (successful stargazing): Talk at 7:30pm “What the Big Bang Does and Does Not Tell Us about the Universe”, Observing at 8:00pm.
October, 2007: (cancelled due to weather): Talk at 8:00pm “Weightlessness”, Observing at 8:30pm.
September 19, 2007: (successful stargazing): Talk at 8:30pm “Space Shuttle Mission 118 - Teacher in Space ”, Observing at 9:00pm.
April, 2007: Saturn's magnificant rings and Galilean moons, Venus in partial phase, M51 Whirlpool galaxy, Beta Cygni double star, Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884, Regulus of Leo, Pleiades, Hyades, Taurus, Cassiopeia, Big and Little Dippers, etc...
February, 2007: Crescent Moon craters and maria, Saturn and it's beautiful rings, M57 Ring Nebula, M42 Orion Nebula, M31 Andromeda galaxy, M51 Whirlpool galaxy, M82 Cigar Galaxy, Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884, Betelgeuse, Castor double star, Pleiades, Hyades, Taurus, Orion, Sirius, Gemini, Cassiopeia, Dippers, etc...
December, 2006: Uranus, the blue-green planet spinning on its side, M57 Ring Nebula, M31 Andromeda galaxy, the Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884, Albireo, Betelgeuse, Geminid meteor shower, Pleiades, Taurus, Orion, Gemini, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Open Cluster, Orion Nebula, etc...
October, 2006: M57 Ring Nebula, M27 Dumbbell Nebula, M31 Andromeda galaxy, Wild Duck cluster, the Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884, Albireo, Cygnus, Pleiades, Taurus, Orion, Gemini, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, etc...
September, 2006: Jupiter and its four large moons, M57 Ring Nebula, M31 Andromeda galaxy, the Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884, Albireo, Betelgeuse, Cygnus, Vega, Pleiades, Taurus, Orion, Gemini, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, etc...
March, 2006: Saturn & its ring system, M3 & M5 Globular Clusters, M44 Beehive Cluster, M81 Cigar Galaxy, M82, Mizar & Alcor, Castor, Sirius, M42 Orion Nebula, etc....
March, 2006: A thin waxing crescent Moon, reddish Mars, Saturn & its ring system, M3 Globular Cluster, M44 Beehive Cluster, M81 Cigar Galaxy, M82, M97 Owl Nebula, M104 Sombrero Galaxy, M105, The Double Cluster, Ghost of Jupiter Planetary Nebula, Mizar & Alcor, Castor, Sirius, Pleiades, Orion Nebula, etc...
October, 2005: M81 and M82 Galaxies, M57 Ring Nebula, M15 Globular Cluster, M17 Swan/Omega/Horseshoe Nebula, M8 Lagoon Nebula, M13 Andromeda Galaxy, M76 Butterfly/Little Dumbbell Nebula.
September, 2005: M81 and M82 Galaxies, M13 Great Hercules Globular Cluster, M57 Ring Nebula, M17 Swan/Omega/Horseshoe Nebula, M8 Lagoon Nebula, M13 Andromeda Galaxy, Big & Little Dippers, Mizar, Albireo, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Libra, Pegasus.
May, 2005: Saturn & Titan, Jupiter & 4 Moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto), M96 galaxy, M81 and M82 Galaxies, M3 Globular Cluster, The Ghost of Jupiter Planetary Nebula, The Owl Nebula, M44 BeeHive Open Cluster, M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Big Dipper, Arcturus, North Star, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Gemini, Leo (Regulus).
April, 2005: Saturn & Titan, Jupiter & 4 Moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto), M105 and M96 galaxies, M81 and M82 Galaxies, M42 Orion Nebula, M45 Pleiades, Caldwell 14 Double Cluster, M3 Globular Cluster, The Ghost of Jupiter Planetary Nebula, The Owl Nebula, M44 BeeHive Open Cluster, M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Big Dipper, Arcturus, North Star, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Orion (Betelgeuse), Sirius, Procyon, Gemini, Leo (Regulus).
Stargazing Links
http://www.hawastsoc.org/deepsky/caldwell.html
Hawaiian Astronomical Society page of Caldwell Objects.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/messier.htm
Absolute Astronomy page of Messier Objects.
http://www.space.com/spacewatch
Great resource to find what's up in the sky and learn more about the fascinating objects and science behind it all.
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/
Sky & Telescope's monthly sky commentary.
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/
US Naval Observatory Data Services: calculates times of astronomical events for any given day & location
http://www.heavens-above.com/
Lots of information on observing the Heavens Above!
http://www.earthsky.com
Award winning daily science radio series with a variety of articles, teacher resources, kids stuff, etc.
http://www.philharrington.net
Phil Harrington's StarWare, advice and information page for amateur astronomers
http://Astronomycenter.org
Astronomy 101 portal for high quality resources of images, activities, news, notes, etc...
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/
NASA's StarChild site for young (and old) astronomers.
