TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s department of physics and astronomy invites community members to two viewings of the moon and planets through UA telescopes during the total lunar eclipse Monday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 15, on the fourth floor of Gallalee Hall on the UA campus.
The viewings, each free of charge, are as follows:
8 – 10 p.m. Monday, April 14: Hosted by Dr. Jeremy Bailin, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, a 16-inch telescope will be used to observe the full moon, Jupiter and Mars.
1 – 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 15: Dr. Ron Buta, professor of physics and astronomy, will host a viewing of the total lunar eclipse. The optimal time to view the eclipse will be from 2:08 until 3:23 a.m., which is when the moon is predicted to be in the Earth’s umbral shadow. During this event, it will be possible also to view Saturn.
All sky viewings are contingent on the weather. For more information about scheduled events, phone 205/348-5050 or visit http://astronomy.ua.edu/Public.html. A cancellation notice will be posted on this astronomy website if the weather is not conducive to viewing. 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.
The physics and astronomy department is part of UA’s 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, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.
Contact
Kristi Payne or Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, 205/348-3782, rllecomte@advance.ua.edu
Source
Dr. Ron Buta, UA department of physics and astronomy, 205/348-3792, rbuta@ua.edu