A photo of the Powell Observatory. A red brick building with a metal dome on top, with an address plate reading "1101 Narrow Lane".

The Powell Observatory (Abby Trembeczki/East Tennessean)

If any student at ETSU is a fan of physics and astronomy, they are in luck. Saturday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m., the Harry D. Powell Observatory will hold the “Black Holes in Space and on Earth” event created by Dr. Frank Hagelberg.

Hagelberg, one of the presenters, describes the event as “part of the Open House Star Parties series” that are held once a month and take place right on campus. These have been happening at the ETSU campus for decades. This particular addition to the Star Parties series will focus on a presentation given by Hagelberg and then be followed by stargazing led by Dr. Richard Ignace, one of the professors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The event has been called something to “offer a glimpse of the universe” to students, as well as giving information and facts about “astronomy, astrophysics, and related areas.”

A photo of a waning crescent moon.

Students can look at the moon, planets, and stars at the Powell Observatory’s Star Parties (Abby Trembeczki/East Tennessean)

For students to attend, all they have to do is show up. There is “no special preparation” required, but it is recommended to look forward to the “extraordinary experience of having a close look at the night sky in winter.” The only thing standing in the way of this event happening is the weather, in which “in case of cloudy skies, the event might have to be canceled.”

If any students want to learn more about the event itself, Star Parties, or the general Physics and Astronomy department, feel free to visit https://www.etsu.edu/cas/physics/outreach/planetarium.php or contact Ignace or Hagelberg at ignance@mail.etsu.edu or hagelberg@mail.etsu.edu respectively.

Close-up of a black plaque with a gold border on a red brick building. The plaque reads, "The Harry D. Powell Observatory" in larger letters. Below that, in smaller letters, it reads, "Named September 23, 1999"

The Harry D. Powell Observatory plaque by the entrance door (Abby Trembeczki/East Tennessean)

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