UA Astronomers Invite Community to View Jupiter

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama astronomers invite the community to view Jupiter and stellar objects in the next public night sky-viewing session Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Hosted by Dr. Dawn Williams, assistant professor in UA’s department of physics and astronomy, the free viewing will use UA’s 16-inch research grade reflector telescope located in a dome on top of Gallalee Hall.

As the sky-viewing is Homecoming weekend, many visitors are expected on campus. Parking restrictions on campus go into effect evenings before home football games. This includes the Gallalee Hall parking lot. The UA CrimsonRide transit system operates until 9 p.m. on weekends.

Additional Public Nights for the fall semester include:

Friday, Oct. 23 – 7:30 p.m., Gallalee roof, viewing Jupiter – Galilean Nights, hosted by Dr. Jimmy Irwin, assistant professor
Galilean Nights are scheduled, internationally, over a three-day to period to coincide with the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s discovery of the large moons of Jupiter. It’s part of the International Year of Astronomy.

Friday, Nov. 20 – 7 – 10 p.m., Moundville Archaeological Park (across from the museum), star clusters and nebulae, hosted by Drs. Bill Keel and Ron Buta, professors

Tuesday, Dec. 1 – 7:30 p.m., 227 Gallalee, public talk
                                   8 p.m., Gallalee roof, viewing the moon and Jupiter, hosted by Keel.

Gallalee Hall is located near the intersection of Hackberry Lane and University Boulevard on the UA campus.

For more information about scheduled events, phone 205/348-5050 or go online to http://www.astr.ua.edu/Public.html. All sky viewings are contingent upon the weather. Advanced notice is requested for any bringing a large group.

UA’s department of physics and astronomy is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All-American Teams.