Duneland.com > Calendar > April 2010 > VU Observatory Open House and Lecture

VU Observatory Open House and Lecture

Friday, April 23, 2010 • Times vary by date

Valparaiso University Observatory and Neils Science Center

The Valparaiso University Department of Physics and Astronomy will host a series of lectures and observatory open houses, weather permitting. Faculty members will be available to answer questions and provide information about observations. The lectures and open houses are free and open to the public.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Friday, January 22

Valparaiso Observatory Open House: 8:30 - 9:30 pm at Valparaiso University Observatory, Map & Directions>

February 5

Valparaiso Observatory Open House: 8:30 - 9:30 pm at Valparaiso University Observatory, Map & Directions>

Demonstration: 9:30-10:30 pm - Faculty and students will demonstrate how a 36-inch research telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory telescope works, how data is collected and will discuss current research. This demonstration takes place in the Neils Science Center. Map & Directions>

February 19

Valparaiso Observatory Open House: 8:30 - 9:30 pm at Valparaiso University Observatory. Map & Directions>

Public lecture: 7:30 - 8:30 pm - "Red Giants to White Dwarfs: Studying the Death of Stars Like the Sun" presented by Dr. Bruce Hrivnak, professor of physics and astronomy. This lecture takes place in the Neils Science Center. Map & Directions>

March 26

Valparaiso Observatory Open House: 8:30 - 9:30 pm at the Valparaiso University Observatory. Map & Directions>

Demonstration: 9:30-10:30 pm - Following the open house at 9:30 p.m will be a public demonstration of a 36-inch research telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory operated by the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA), which the University joined in 2006. Faculty and students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy will demonstrate how the SARA telescope operates and how data is collected, as well as discuss the research Valpo faculty and students are conducting with the telescope. Images from the telescope will be projected onto a large screen for easy viewing. Map & Directions>

April 9

Valparaiso Observatory Open House: 8:30 - 9:30 pm at the Valparaiso University Observatory. Map & Directions>

April 23

Valparaiso Observatory Open House: 8:30 - 9:30 pm at the Valparaiso University Observatory. Map & Directions>

Public lecture: 7:30 - 8:30 pm - "Life After Death: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes" presented by Dr. Todd Hillwig, assistant professor of physics and astronomy. This lecture takes place in the Neils Science Center. Map & Directions>

NOTE: Please call (219) 464-5202 or visit http://physics.valpo.edu/astronomy/obsOpenHouse.html after 5 pm on the day of the Open House to confirm if the weather is clear enough for the observatory to be open. On cloudy days, there will be a planetarium presentation at Neils Science Center. Map & Directions to Neils Science Center>

For more information, or to make arrangements for groups, please call (219) 464-5369.

Category: Classes & Workshops

April Calendar