PHOTO: Kelli Spangler, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, operates the MEADE Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope in Montgomery County Community College’s Observatory. Photo by Matt Carlin
Blue Bell, Pa.—Members of the community are invited to explore the night sky this fall during three open community nights in Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) state-of-the-art Observatory and Observation Deck.
Fall 2015 commuity nights will be held from 8-10 p.m. on Mondays, Sept. 21, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9. The Observatory is located on the third floor of MCCC’s Advanced Technology Center at its Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.
Community nights are free of charge and are open to the public; astronomy clubs are welcome to participate. Students from MCCC’s Introduction to Astronomy course volunteer during the event to share their knowledge and assist visitors with using the telescope and viewing equipment.
Montgomery County Community College’s Observatory features a 16-inch MEADE Schmidt-Cassegrain research-level telescope and a 90-mm Coronado telescope for safe observation of the sun. All of the instruments are controllable both in the classroom as well as in the Observatory itself. Through a fiber network, images can be downloaded for further study and comparison and can be used in online courses.
For more information about the College’s Observatory, including events, directions, and affiliated associations, visit http://www.mc3.edu/campus-life/observatory.
All Observatory events are subject to weather conditions. In the event of inclement or questionable weather, call the observatory hotline, 215-641-6460, an hour prior to the event for possible cancellation information.
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