Rooftop Observatory Viewings Offered

By Broadside News Editor Asma Chaudhary
Photo by Broadside Photographer Josh Griset

George Mason University’s Research I Astronomy Observatory officially opened on Jan. 24 of last year; students are now allowed to visit the rooftop telescope with their science classes to learn more about the universe. Although this has occurred, it is only with special permission of the Department of Physics and Astronomy that students are allowed in otherwise.

Research I, which is located behind Enterprise Hall, is a large building that houses many scientific research classes and laboratories. Construction began in August 2004, and after nearly 2.5 years, the building is complete and moving forward in technology.

Assistant Physics and Astronomy professor, Dr. Joe Weingartner, runs informal observatory sessions in which the public, including students and faculty, are invited to view the sky on particular dates, weather permitting. Overcast skies or a wind speed above 35 miles per hour will cancel the session. However, the telescopes that are used are strong enough to see through clouds that are somewhat polluted by the campus and surrounding environment.

The upcoming dates are all on Mondays and include Feb. 18, March 3, March 24, April 7 and April 21. The session that ran on Feb. 4 was canceled due to extreme cloudiness. Before heading to the session at 8:30 p.m., Weingartner gives informative presentations to students in the Physics and Astronomy Clubs.

By the end of this semester, the observatory is expected to obtain a new telescope, which is called the 32-inch Ritchey Chrétien telescope. According to the Astronomy Observation session’s website, the equipment currently being used includes an eight-inch Dobsonian telescope, and a six-inch refractor that was created by students in 1975.

Additionally, there is a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, which is controlled by a computer.

For more information, contact Dr. Harold Geller at hgeller@gmu.edu.