The ETSU observatory will give the public a better view of the sky through an open house that will be held every other Saturday.
Dr. Harry Powell of the physics department said that the public will be welcomed from 7-9 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of each month to use the equipment that only the students have been able to use in the past. This equipment consists of eight Meade telescopes that are mounted on piers outside. These telescopes are used in astronomy labs to examine the night sky.
The ninth telescope, a 14-inch Celestron, is located inside the observatory. Powell said that this telescope is used to make various technical measurements.
Through the use of a low light level video camera on the telescope and a 42-inch television screen viewers are able to see what this much more powerful instrument can detect.
However, visitors to the observatory often wonder why they can’t view space directly through the eye of this telescope. “It’s pretty hard to reach the largest telescope. You have to climb a ladder,” Powell said.
Call 439-4231 for more information.

Author