UA’s Astronomy Public Viewing to Feature Saturn

Tuscaloosa, Ala. – The department of physics and astronomy within The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences will host its third in the series of public viewing events March 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Ray White, professor of astronomy, will give a short lecture on star clusters, galaxies and Saturn before guests look through the new telescope in the dome on top of Gallalee Hall. Gallalee Hall is located on the UA campus near the intersection of Hackberry Lane and University Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.

All are welcome to view the sky through UA’s facilities using the new, 16-inch reflector telescope, installed in January. The new, Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope has two and one-half times the light gathering power of the old one, computer positioning, and it allows the use of digital imaging instruments.

For more information on events or questions about weather and event scheduling, please visit http://www.astr.ua.edu/PublicNights.html, or call the department of physics and astronomy at 205/348-5050. Large groups are encouraged to call and give advanced notice so the department can plan accordingly.

The department of physics and astronomy is housed within the College of Arts and Sciences. The College is the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state with 6,600 students and 360 faculty. Students from the college have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships, and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Team.