UA Astronomers to Host Public Sky Viewing at Moundville Oct. 12

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Visitors may peer through two University of Alabama telescopes at Moundville Archaeological Park to view, weather permitting, distant star clusters and galaxies on Friday, Oct. 12, beginning at 7 p.m.

This sky viewing opportunity continues until 10 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Dr. William Keel, UA professor of astronomy, will be the speaker. In addition to the clusters and the galaxies, visitors will have an opportunity to view nebulae, which are cloudlike patches of gas produced by stars during the final stages of their lives.

The University’s 16- and 17-inch telescopes will be set up in a field across the road from the park’s museum. Parking is available at the museum and near the park’s conference center.

For more information, contact UA’s department of physics and astronomy at 205/348-5050. Additional information may also be obtained from the department’s Web site at www.astr.ua.edu/PublicNights.html.