OBSERVATORY OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE:
The University of Illinois Astronomical Society frequently holds observing sessions at the University's historic observatory. These sessions are open to the public free of charge. Visitors have the opportunity to gaze through the original 12" refracting telescope, as well as several smaller scopes. For more information on the observatory, take the ObservaTour.
The Observatory will be open to the public at the following times for viewing (weather permitting, must have mostly clear skies), and depending on the availability of trained club members to run the open house viewing sessions.
The usual open house schedule is for the second Friday of the month. If it's cloudy, then try again the following Friday if the weather looks good.
Click to view the 3-Day clear-sky forecast.
OPEN HOUSE GUEST E-MAIL LIST
Want to be notified of upcoming observatory open houses and other UIAS public events? Join our e-mail list! Simply e-mail us atuias@illinois.edu and request to be added to the guest list. We'll let you know what's new at the Observatory, and what we plan to look at when you come to visit.
WHERE IS THE OBSERVATORY?
The Observatory building is located on the far southeast corner of the quad, between the Morrow Plots and Smith Memorial Hall. Free parking is available in the lot just east of the observatory. (enter from Gregory St.)
WHAT IS THERE TO SEE?
- Sky and Telescope current observing highlights
- Sky and Telescope Celestial object observing information
Here are some common objects we might take a look at, depending on the season and time of day, but we are always open to suggestions.
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- The Moon
- star clusters
- nebulae
- double stars