The Public Is Invited To Explore The Skies At The Williams College Observatory
WILLIAMSTOWN - Williams College invites you to experience the wonders of our universe at the Milham Planetarium, located inside the Old Hopkins Observatory at Williams College.Astronomy students at the college will host free shows for the public on the following Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m.: September 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14, 21; December 5; and January 9, 16, 23. Shows will last approximately 50 minutes.
Audiences will be treated to shows from the high-precision Zeiss Skymaster ZKP3/B opto-mechanical planetarium projector, newly installed in April 2005.
The Zeiss Skymaster is capable of demonstrating phenomena including: retrograde motions of the planets, phases of the moon, the varying temperatures/colors of stars, locations of neighboring galaxies, the mythological figures and zodiacal signs ascribed to constellations, the Southern Hemisphere's sky, comets, artificial satellites, and much more.
Time permitting, show attendees will also explore our Milky Way Galaxy and the Universe beyond via the Ansible MicroDome digital planetarium. The Ansible is based upon flight-simulator technology and can be used to fly (virtually) from planet Earth to anywhere within 1000 light years, in addition to many other features. This versatile digital planetarium complements the high-resolution capabilities of the Zeiss projector.
Fall '08 shows will be hosted by Williams College students Hanlon Kelley '09, Charles Cao '09, Ana Inoa '10 and Emma Lehman '10. Visiting Professor of Astronomy, Marek Demianski, is acting director of the Hopkins Observatory during this academic year.
The Hopkins Observatory, built in 1836-38 by the first professor of astronomy at Williams College, Albert Hopkins, is the oldest extant observatory in the United States.
For reservations (recommended), contact Barbara Swanson at (413) 597-2188. Others will be admitted as space permits. Large groups should call for special appointments.
The Hopkins Observatory is on a small hill on the north side of Main Street east of Spring Street in Williamstown and just east of Lawrence Hall Drive, on which planetarium patrons share parking with the Williams College Museum of Art. A campus map showing the Hopkins Observatory's location can be found on the web at www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/ or at 829 Main Street, Williamstown, Mass. in http://maps.google.com.
