Stargazing will be held every Thursday night, 8:30-9:30 pm, during the Spring, 2008, semester

The Astronomy Department maintains a small observatory on the roof of McConnell Hall, part of Smith College's Clark Science Center. The observatory is used primarily as a laboratory for astronomy classes and presently has seven 8-inch diameter reflecting telescopes, which can be mounted on fixed piers or portable tripods, and two large aperture (12 and 16 inch) computer-controlled telescopes, each permanently mounted in a room with a roll-off roof.

Once a week, weather permitting, we hold a public stargazing session. Everyone from Smith and the surrounding community is welcome to these "star parties", which are staffed by our undergraduate teaching assistants. You can call the laboratory instructor, Meg Thacher, 413-545-3935, if you have any questions or special needs. If you plan to come, dress warmly, and expect to be amazed by your sky!