MIDDLEBURY — The Mittelman Observatory and Middlebury Physics at Middlebury College will again host stargazing open house nights this summer. These observatory events are scheduled for Wednesday evenings, June 26, July 3, July 24, July 31, and Aug. 7, from 9 until 10:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Jupiter and Saturn will be in the evening sky on many of these dates. A variety of interesting stars, star clusters, and nebulae will also be visible through the observatory’s telescopes. The observatory includes a 24-inch telescope in a dome and smaller telescopes on the roof.
Mittelman Observatory is located atop McCardell Bicentennial Hall on the west side of the Middlebury College campus. To reach the observatory, follow Route 125 west from the Middlebury village center, through campus, and down the hill. Turn right on Bicentennial Way toward the parking lot, enter the building, and take the elevator to the 7th and top floor.
Observatory open house nights are free and open to the public. However, these events will take place only if the sky is expected to be mostly clear. Please check the observatory website at go.middlebury.edu/observatory or call the observatory at 443-2266 after 7 p.m. on the evening of the event for weather status.