The public debut of the Lynchburg College Belk Observatory will be from 8 to 11 p.m. on April 3 and 4, weather permitting, at LC's Claytor Nature Study Center in Bedford County. All tickets for this viewing have been distributed. Stay tuned for future offerings.
The debut is part of the global 100 Hours of Astronomy event, which is in turn part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. The year 2009 is the 400th anniversary of the invention of the telescope.
Visitors will view objects through astronomical binoculars, 8-inch telescopes, and the 20-inch Margaret Gilbert Telescope. Viewing is limited to 24 people per night and tickets are required. The tickets, which are free, will be available beginning Monday, March 30 at the LC Information Desk in Hall Campus Center. There is a limit of four tickets per person/family.
"Our observatory is a small one, and we want to be sure that every visitor has the opportunity to fully experience it; this is our main reason for limiting our numbers," said Dr. Neal Sumerlin, director of the observatory. "This event will initiate our program of monthly public events, however, so there will be future opportunities to see the observatory if you miss this one."
Except for the Margaret Gilbert telescope in the dome building, the facility is handicap-accessible. This main telescope requires climbing a set of stairs and a warehouse-type ladder to see through the eyepiece. All of the other instruments (binoculars, 8-inch telescopes) and the rest of the facility (including restrooms) are handicap-accessible.
If weather causes a cancellation, that information will be posted by 3 p.m. the day of the viewing at 544-STAR (544-7827).
The College will reschedule if necessary, and tickets will be honored at the rescheduled time. The tickets will include a map with directions to the observatory.
For more information on the observatory and astronomy in general, visit: http://www.lynchburg.edu/observatory.xml.