Fall 2009 Public Night Schedule

McCormick Observatory
DATE TIME OBSERVATORY FACULTY ASSOC.
Sep 4 9 - 11 pm McCormick Thuan Damke
Sep 18 9 - 11 pm McCormick Chevalier Dirienzo
Oct 2 9 - 11 pm McCormick Whittle Beaton, Tang
Oct 7 7 - 9 pm McCormick Patterson Star Party for International Year of Astronomy
Oct 11 7 - 9 pm McCormick Patterson Ries, Damke
Oct 16 8 - 11 pm McCormick Hawley Gugliucci, Jones
Oct 23 7 - 11 pm Fan Mountain Hearty, Majewski, McDavid, Murphy, Nelson, Skrutskie, Wilson Beaton, Bilous, B. Chen, Damke, de Messieres, Dirienzo, Fox, Jones, Leisenring, Pennucci, Privon, Ries, Romero, Sanpa-Arsa, Tang, Trammell, Whelan, Wik, A. Wong, K. Wong, Zhao
Nov 6 7 - 9 pm McCormick Seidelmann Lynch
Nov 20 7 - 9 pm McCormick Verbiscer Kuo, Sanpa-Arsa
Dec 4 7 - 9 pm McCormick Indebetouw Ries, Romero
Dec 18 7 - 9 pm McCormick Evans de Messieres, Pennucci


Purpose

To provide the public with a chance to observe the stars and planets through the McCormick telescopes and to educate the public concerning the research work and history of the observatories.

Brief Description

Each public night includes observing with all of the telescopes (weather permitting), audio-visual presentations, museum exhibits, and tours of the Observatory. All faculty and graduate students participate through a rotating schedule. For more information, please call the info line at (434) 243-1885.



McCormick Public Nights

Leander McCormick Observatory is open on the first and third Friday night of each month (except holidays) for 2 hours. McCormick Observatory is located on the western edge of the UVA grounds (click here for directions).


Fan Mountain Public Nights

Each April and October, a special public night is held at the Fan Mountain Observing Station (located 13 miles south of town at the end of a gravel road). Tickets, which are free, are required for Fan Mountain public nights (except for Friends of the Leander McCormick Observatory). Send a self-addressed stamped envelope, along with the number of tickets requested (up to 6), to:
PLEASE NOTE: There are no more tickets available for the October 23rd Fan Mountain Public Night. The next Fan Mountain Public Night will be in April 2010; tickets will be available after March 1st 2010 (do not send requests before this date). Our supply of tickets is normally exhausted within 3 weeks. 

Fan Mountain Public Night 
P.O. Box 400325
Charlottesville, VA 22904-04325
A self-addressed stamped envelope MUST be enclosed or tickets cannot be sent.

Friends of the Leander McCormick Observatory do NOT need tickets for Fan Mountain Public Nights, they should simply bring their membership card up the mountain with them.

Group visits

The Leander McCormick Observatory is open to Educational Groups with ADVANCE RESERVATIONS on the SECOND and FOURTH Friday night of the month. Groups MUST call 924-7494 to schedule a visit. Group nights are reserved quickly; it is advisable to reserve a group night up to several months in advance.

Owing to the demand for tickets, groups cannot be accommodated at Fan Mountain.