Solar Observing Session Information
Spring 2013
Solar observing sessions will be held in the late morning/early afternoon for one week at the Campus Observatory, southeast of Foellinger Auditorium. Observing will take place on the west lawn of the Observatory using telescopes with specially-designed filters. These filters block 99.999% of the sunlight and make it safe to observe the Sun. Astronomy Department personnel will be present to operate and explain the telescope and the solar phenomena being viewed. Freely ask questions and sketch what you see.
Dates & Times
The scheduled dates for solar observing are listed below.
- Monday, April 8th - CLOUDY
- Tuesday, April 9th - CLOUDY
- Wednesday, April 10th - CLOUDY
- Thursday, April 11th - CLOUDY
Due to cloudy weather, additional dates have been scheduled as follows:
- Monday, April 15th - CLOUDY
- Tuesday, April 16th - CLOUDY
- Wednesday, April 17th - CLOUDY
- Thursday, April 18th - CLOUDY
- Friday, April 19th - CLOUDY
- SATURDAY, APRIL 20th, 10:30am - 2:30pm - OPEN
- Monday, April 22nd
- Wednesday, April 24th
- Thursday, April 25th
Solar observing sessions run from 11:15am - 2:45pm each scheduled day (unless otherwise noted). You may arrive when you wish, but be sure to allow approximately 20-30 minutes complete the observations before the end of session.
All are welcome to look through the telescopes, including your friends.
Weather-Related Cancellations
Observing can be done only if the sky is clear. Sometimes it will be clear an hour before a session is to start, only to cloud over in the next hour. At other times the sky is cloudy at the time we want to open the observatory and it clears up after the TAs have left. It is obvious to say that the professors and TAs who are involved cannot control the weather, but we try to cope with the circumstances as best we can.
Also, if the temperature is under 20 F, the session will be cancelled.
Subscribe to the Solar Observing Session Status Update Blog below to receive notifications when a session is canceled due to weather conditions.
Solar Observing Session Status Updates
Updates for scheduled solar observing sessions, including weather-related cancellations, will be posted to the Astronomy Solar Observing Session Status Update Blog.
You can subscribe to the blog or the RSS feed to get updates sent to you automatically!
The latest status updates will also be posted on this page.
Thursday, 4/25: OPEN - FINAL SESSION (UDPATED)
Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:36:56 CDT
<p>The Observatory is open today until 2:45pm. The telescopes are set up on the lawn behind the Observatory (on the south side between the Observatory and the Morrow Plots). Today will be the final solar observing session.</p> ... Full Details
Thursday, 4/25: OPEN - FINAL SESSION
Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:21:00 CDT
<p>The sky is clear and solar observing will occur out on the lawn on the (west side or behind the Observatory). We will be out until 2:45pm today. This will be the LAST solar observing session of the semester.</p> ... Full Details
Wednesday, 4/24 - CLOUDY BUT OPEN INSIDE
Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:35:23 CDT
<p>THe sky is cloudy, but the Observatory will be open for simulated solar observing. Come inside and go to room 124 in the back. We'll be open until 2:45pm today.</p> ... Full Details
Monday, 4/22 - OPEN
Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:20:41 CDT
<p>The sky is clear! The Observatory is open! Sunspots are visible!</p> ... Full Details
Saturday, 4/20 - OPEN!
Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:35:52 CDT
<p>The Sun is shining (FINALLY) and Solar Observing is open from 10:30AM until 2:30pm today. Note that there are some clouds in the sky, so you might have to wait a minute if you arrive when the Sun is behind a cloud. ANy delays should be temporary - so come on out!</p> ... Full Details
Post to the Observing Session Status Update Blog (Staff only).