Photo
Caption: Dr. Harry Augensen, director of the Widener Observatory, looks out at
the night sky alongside a 16-inch Meade Cassegrain reflecting telescope.
CHESTER,
Pa.– The Widener University Observatory
will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a special public stargazing session
on Friday, Feb. 20 from 7:30-9 p.m. The event is free, and interested
participants are encouraged to register by contacting Theresa Sminkey at tasminkey@widener.edu
or 610-499-4003.
Light refreshments will be served.
Dr. Harry
Augensen, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Widener
Observatory, initiated public stargazing sessions in 2002 using portable
telescopes until the Widener Observatory was completed in 2005. Now, visitors
can view the night sky using the observatory’s 16-inch computerized Meade
Cassegrain reflecting telescope and several smaller 12-inch telescopes.
At the
start of the Feb. 20 anniversary viewing, visitors will find the crescent moon
and the planets Mars and Venus close together. They’ll also see clearly the
planet Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, the crimson star R Leporis, and the double
star Almach, which shines with the colors of
Widener: blue and gold.
In
addition to the Feb. 20 viewing, public stargazing sessions at the Widener
Observatory typically run the first Friday of every month and every Monday
during the academic year. Find all of the dates for the year at www.widener.edu/stargazing.
“Our
observatory is a special place because of the people who are involved with it –
our students, alumni and faculty,” said Augensen. “We are committed to showing
people in the local community, as well as our own Widener community, the many
sights in our sky above.”
In
addition to public stargazing sessions, Augensen also takes requests for group
sessions and has entertained students from the Widener Partnership Charter
School, Cub Scouts and senior groups. He even once helped orchestrate a
marriage proposal. He also regularly organizes nights for area teachers through
the secondary level. The next stargazing session for teachers takes place on
March 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Widener
students also benefit from the observatory. Those in introductory classes can
see objects they are learning about in the classroom firsthand, while
higher-level science students can use the observatory equipment to measure
variability in certain stars.
“I never
get tired of seeing students’ eyes light up after they’ve looked through the
telescope and have seen something they’ve only read about up until that point,”
said Augensen. “This observatory makes for transformational learning
experiences. We are lucky to have it as a resource on the Widener University
campus.”
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Tuesday, February 10, 2015
The Widener Observatory Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary with Special Public Stargazing Feb. 20
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