The Michigan State University Observatory announced its public outreach events for 2025. The first event that kicks off the year this Saturday, however, is canceled due to weather conditions.
At the remaining 13 events on Saturday nights from April to October, students and community members can tour and receive a brief history of the observatory as they make their way to the dome in groups of 15. During those 15-minute tours, groups can look through the observatory's 24-inch telescope that will likely show either the moon, Mars or Jupiter in the coming months.
While waiting for their tour rotations, groups will be able to use several smaller telescopes outside the observatory. Student volunteers will also point out constellations and planets to keep an eye out for.
Jack Schulte, Ph.D. candidate in physics and astronomy, suggests that attendees arrive early to ensure that they can get a tour of the observatory.
In addition to viewing the night sky, these events will offer activities for kids to provide a deeper understanding of astronomy.
For instance, the next event on April 12 will be celebrating statewide astronomy night as a part of MSU’s science festival that will include activities relating to the solar system theme. Ella Werre, an astrophysics senior, said they plan to make a model of the solar system as a part of their activity for those who bring children.
Making events like these possible for the community takes significant collaboration from people in the astronomy department, said Mackenzie Ticoras, Ph.D. candidate in astrophysics and astronomy.
"When we have our public nights, we want people to be engaged with astronomy, asking questions and interacting with us," Ticoras said. "It’s their chance to ask us their wild space questions, if they have them."
For Werre, events like this help apply what students learn in the classroom and take it to the next level. She believes this event is a great outreach opportunity for the community.
"I hope that they get inspired," Werre said. "I think astronomy is an interesting science because there's so much room for people who aren't classically trained to really help out. You can just do it with your own telescope in your backyard and submit data that is relevant and important to academic astronomers."
Rebecca Kyer, Ph.D. candidate in astrophysics and astronomy, loves getting to see the look on attendees' faces as they look through the telescope for the first time.
"Looking at the moon with a big telescope and really being able to see those craters and the details is really cool to see," Kyer said. "You think everything else is just too far away to really be able to see it that well, but the moon with a big telescope, especially if someone has never seen it before, people get emotional."
All the events are free and open to the public, no registration required. The event schedule is available on the observatory's website.
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