Public Observing

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. Please check the Wesleyan Events Calendar to see if classes are in session.  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.

Clear Sky Chart:

Want to know if observing is happening?  Follow us on Twitter! @WesAstro

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.

2012 Schedule for public observing on our 20" refractor:

January 28, 8:00pm-10:00pm
February 18, 8:00pm-10:00pm
March 3, 8:00pm-10:00pm -- Special Event -- Moon and 6 Planets Visible
Wednesday, March 21, 8:00pm-10:00pm -- Special Event -- Van Vleck Crater on the Moon visible
March 31, 8:00pm-10:00pm
April 21, 9:00pm-11:00pm
May 25, 9:00pm-11:00pm -- Friday Commencement/Reunion Observing
May 26, 9:00pm-11:00pm -- Saturday Commencement/Reunion Observing
June 23, 9:00pm-11:00pm
July 28, 9:00pm-11:00pm
August 11, 9:00pm-11:00pm
September 22, 9:00pm-11:00pm
October 19, 9:00pm-11:00pm -- Friday Homecoming/Family Weekend Observing
October 20, 9:00pm-11:00pm -- Saturday Homecoming/Family Weekend Observing
November 17, 8:00pm-10:00pm
December 22, 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.  Do not call this number for information about Wednesday/Saturday night public observing.  For Saturday observing, consult the ASGH website.  For Wednesday observing, consult the Middletown weather forecast.

Directions

Directions to the observatory can be found by clicking here.

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.  A campus map can be found by clicking here.