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Announcements

Site last updated: May 13, 2013

Please join us Mon. May 13th  at 8:30pm (weather permitting) for our next session.

 

Although the walking trails within DeKorte Park are closed, the Observatory is OPEN every Monday and Wednesday evening (weather permitting). In addition, all other programs in the Observatory will run as scheduled.

 

In addition to our regularly scheduled programs, we also host special events! Click here for more information.

 

The Winter/Spring 2013 Learning Series schedule is available. Registration is limited and pre-registration is required so click here to reserve your seat today!

 

The Spring 2013 Public Viewing Nights schedule is now available! It's free so please join us for an evening and learn about the sky above us.

 

To request information for everything related to education, events,and membership, please click here and complete the form.

 

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Welcome to the William D. McDowell Observatory

Latitude: 40° 47’ 8.178”N Longitude: 74° 6’ 19.118”W Elevation: 25ft

 

Public Viewing Nights

William D. McDowell ObservatoryThe Observatory’s 20-inch, research-grade telescope is open to the public free of charge on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  The focus of each session depends on observing conditions, so check this website often for details and updates.  Viewing requires a clear sky, so the Observatory is closed on cloudy, rainy, and snowy nights.  Closings will be announced on the left side of this page and on the William D. McDowell page.

 

 

Spring 2013 Viewing Schedule

The Observatory is open to the public with free viewing sessions on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

The observatory is open at 8:30 p.m. for two hours.

Please check this web-site for the most up-to-date information.

 

* Note: Although leashed dogs are permitted in DeKorte Park, dogs are not permitted in the Observatory unless they are a certified service dog.

 

 

Observatory Opens

at 8:30PM

 


May 2013 (8:30PM - 10PM)
1st                         Saturn, Arcturus, M13, (Vega, Alberio, Double-Double, M57 Late)

6th & 8th                Saturn, Arcturus, M13, (Vega, Alberio, Double-Double, M57 Late)

13th & 15th            Saturn, Moon, Arcturus, M13, (Vega, Alberio, Double-Double, M57 Late)

20th & 22nd            Saturn, Moon, Arcturus, M13, (Vega, Alberio, Double-Double, M57 Late)

Closed Memorial Day the 27th

29th                      Saturn, Arcturus, M13, (Vega, Alberio, Double-Double, M57 Late)

 

Key:

h & χ Persei – A double star cluster in Persei
NGC 2392 – A planetary nebula located in Gemini is also known as the Eskimo Nebula
h & χ Persei – The Famous double star cluster in Perseus
M-13 – Great globular cluster in Hercules
M-42 – The Orion Nebula
M-45 – The Pleiades
M-57 – Ring Nebula, Messier 57 is often regarded as the prototype of a planetary nebula

 

 

 

To arrange for a group visit, please contact Dr. John Sloan at 201-460-2416.