Visiting Van Vleck Observatory
There are several choices for the public to visit the observatory and view the sky through our telescopes:
Weekly public observing (during the academic semester only)
Weather-permitting, weekly public observing at Van Vleck Observatory is held on Wednesday evenings during the normal academic semester. We invite members of the Wesleyan and Middletown community to come view the skies through our telescopes. The telescope are open from 8:00 - 9:00 pm, however not all objects of interest may be available throughout that time.
This event is free and open to everyone. Wednesday night
observing will not happen during University holidays or during final
exams.
Clear skies are mandatory.
Monthly Saturday night observing (runs all year long)
Organized and hosted by the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford (ASGH), this is a great opportunity to view the sky through our beautiful 20" refractor. Re-furbished in recent years in honor of Walter Scott "Scotty" Houston who used this instrument many nights, we can now share this telescope with the public on regular occasions. For details please visit the ASGH website.
Schedule for public observing on our 20" refractor:
September 20, 8:00pm-10:00pm
October 18, 8:00pm-10:00pm
November 8, 8:00pm-10:00pm
December 6, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Group Visits
Van Vleck Observatory sponsors day and evening group visits to our institution. Daytime tours (usually reserved for school groups) consist of a brief lecture on current astronomical events that can be viewed from one's back yard, a slide show, and a walk through of our facility. Evening tours are usually held on a predesignated evening, which may or may not coincide with Wednesday Public Observing, and are of a rain or shine, open-house nature. To schedule a group visit to the observatory, please contact
Roy Kilgard at 860 685 3664.
Parking at the observatory
For those joining us from off campus please DO NOT PARK IN THE OBSERVATORY PARKING LOT. Parking is available on Vine St. near the tennis courts. To get to the observatory from there cross the street and take the long stairs to the top of the hill. The observatory is the stone building with all the white domes on it.
