EIU Media Relations

EIU observatory to host open house February 28

(Charleston, Illinois) — Eastern Illinois University’s Astronomy Club invites community members to the EIU observatory during its open house from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, February 28.

This will be the year’s second observatory open house, following its first open house January 31.  EIU’s Astronomy Club holds an open house the last Friday of every month of EIU’s fall and spring semesters. 

Additional open house dates this spring include the Fridays of March 27 and April 24. While the February open house will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Central Standard Time, the March and April open houses will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. Central Standard Time to account for Daylight Savings Time. Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8.

EIU’s Observatory houses a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that is computer controlled for both positioning and data acquisition. It is located in a dark field on campus which makes it both accessible and useful.

Dr. Donald Pakey, director of the observatory and physics professor, encourages any interested participants in the area to attend any or all of the open house events.

“Our observatory is a great way for local children and amateur astronomers to enjoy and learn about space,” Pakey said. “It’s always a fun and educational experience every time we host this event.”

For more information and directions on how to get to the observatory, visit https://www.eiu.edu/physics/observatory.php. 

For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.