UA Physics and Astronomy Department to Host Public Star Gazing Events, Science Talks

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s department of physics and astronomy invites members of the community to attend a series of public nights this season to look at the universe through UA telescopes. The events are free of charge.

The first viewing, hosted by Dr. Jeremy Bailin, professor of physics and astronomy at UA, is from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Gallalee Hall. Visitors will be able to view Saturn and the gibbous moon through the 16-inch research-grade reflector in the building’s observatory dome.

Other monthly sky viewings this season are:

7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 – Hosted by Drs. Ron Buta, William Keel, and Preethi Nair, professors in UA’s physics and astronomy department. The event will focus UA’s telescopes atop Gallalee Hall on the total lunar eclipse, the last of a quartet.

7 p.m.  Friday, Oct. 16 — Hosted by Drs. Ron Buta and William Keel. At UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park, this event will feature a viewing of galaxies, star clusters and nebulae from UA telescopes set up across the road from the park’s museum.

7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 — “Neutron Star Kicks,” a public science talk given by Dr. Matthias Kaminski, professor of physics and astronomy at UA, in 227 Gallalee Hall. The talk will be followed by a viewing of Uranus and the first quarter moon at 8 p.m. in the building’s observatory, hosted by Dr. Jimmy Irwin, professor of physics and astronomy at UA.

7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 — Hosted by Drs. Ron Buta and William Keel at UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park, this event will feature a viewing of the Orion nebula, star clusters and galaxies from UA telescopes set up across the road from the park’s museum.

7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 — Hosted by Dr. Dean Townsley, professor of astronomy and physics at UA. Visitors will view the first quarter moon, Jupiter, the Pleiades and the Orion nebula.

All sky viewings are contingent on the weather. Cloudy skies are not conducive to viewing. For more information about scheduled events, call 205/348-5050 or visit http://astronomy.ua.edu/Public.html.

Please give advance notice if you plan to bring a large group.

Gallalee Hall is at the northeast corner of University Boulevard and Hackberry Drive, less than a block from Denny Chimes. UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park is 13 miles south of campus off Alabama 69.

For more information on the events, including parking and campus transit information, please go to http://astronomy.ua.edu/Public.html or call the UA department of astronomy and physics at 205/348-5050 and ask for the faculty member in charge of the event in question.

UA’s physics and astronomy department is part of The College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships and Goldwater Scholarships.