The UWSP Observatory

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Located on the roof of the Science Building at the UWSP campus, the Observatory houses a 0.4-m (16-inch) Meade, computer controlled telescope. Normally the observatory is open for public viewing three nights per week (if the skies are clear) during the school year. Monday nights are specifically designed for the public Tuesday and Wednesday nights are used primarily by astronomy students but anyone is welcome. Public viewing runs from mid-September to mid-December then late-January through mid-May. Most summers the observatory is closed. In the winter, dress warmly since the observatory temperature is the same as the outside temperature.

 

Access to the observatory is obtained by using the southwest stairwell in the Science Building and going to the fourth floor, room D402. Visitors could also go to the third floor and follow the signs to the observatory by the southwest stairwell. IF THE SKIES ARE CLEAR, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, from 8:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. the Observatory is open and is staffed by knowledgeable astronomy students and staff who will find and describe various interesting objects found in the current night-time sky then allow visitors to observe them through the telescope.

 

 

The observatory can be contacted to determine if we are open and have clear skies from any touch-tone phone by calling (715) 346-2208 and selecting the observatory option (number 3) from the automated attendant. We update our message about 7:30 p.m. to give visitors our best estimate of the probability of clear skies and the observatory being open.