1 Public Night Schedule Spring 2008 - Astronomy at UVa

Spring 2008 Public Night Schedule

McCormick Observatory
DATE TIME OBSERVATORY FACULTY ASSOC.
Jan 4 7 - 9 pm McCormick Craig Sarazin Ricardo Munoz
Jan 18 7 - 9 pm McCormick Trinh Thuan Ryan Lynch
Feb 1 7 - 9 pm McCormick Phil Arras George Trammell
Feb 15 7 - 9 pm McCormick Bob O'Connell Abel Yang
Mar 7 7 - 9 pm McCormick Zhi-Yun Li Jeff Carlin
Mar 21 9 - 11 pm McCormick Kris Beckwith A.J. Heroux
Apr 4 9 - 11 pm McCormick Greg Black Marios Chatzikos
Apr 18 9 - 11 pm McCormick Kelsey Johnson Rachael Beaton
Apr 25 8 - 11:45 pm Fan Mountain McDavid, Murphy, Majewski, Skrutskie, Wilson, Nelson, Whittle Walker, Heroux, Whelan, Beaton, Privon, Yang, Lynch, Ries, Trammell, Gugliucci, Zasowski, Kuo, de Messieres, Nidever, Miller, Chou, Park, Kanneganti, Martin
May 2 9 - 11 pm McCormick Carol Lonsdale George Privon
May 16 9 - 11 pm McCormick Bob Rood Lisa May Walker


Purpose

To provide the public with a chance to observe the stars and planets through the McCormick telescopes and to educate the public concerning the research work and history of the observatories.

Brief Description

Each public night includes observing with all of the telescopes (weather permitting), audio-visual presentations, museum exhibits, and tours of the Observatory. All faculty and graduate students participate through a rotating schedule.



McCormick Public Nights

Leander McCormick Observatory is open on the first and third Friday night of each month (except holidays) for 2 hours. McCormick Observatory is located on the western edge of the UVA grounds (click here for directions).


Fan Mountain Public Nights

Each April and October, a special public night is held at the Fan Mountain Observing Station (located 13 miles south of town at the end of a gravel road). Tickets, which are free, are required for Fan Mountain public nights (except for Friends of the Leander McCormick Observatory). Send a self-addressed stamped envelope, along with the number of tickets requested (up to 6), to: 
Fan Mountain Public Night 
P.O. Box 400325
Charlottesville, VA 22904-04325
A self-addressed stamped envelope MUST be enclosed or tickets cannot be sent.

Friends of the Leander McCormick Observatory do NOT need tickets for Fan Mountain Public Nights, they should simply bring their membership card up the mountain with them.


Group visits

The Leander McCormick Observatory is open to Educational Groups with ADVANCE RESERVATIONS on the SECOND and FOURTH Friday night of the month. Groups MUST call 924-7494 to schedule a visit. Group nights are reserved quickly; it is advisable to reserve a group night up to several months in advance.

Owing to the demand for tickets, groups cannot be accommodated at Fan Mountain.

The Astronomy Department can be contacted at (434) 924-7494, or by email at jdh7h@virginia.edu.