SPRING 2010 Astronomy Observing Sessions

Check back often to see changes in scheduling due to weather or other reasons.

The George Mason University Observatory at the Fairfax Campus building Research 1 (see campus map here) officially opened 24 January 2007. No one is allowed on the roof without authority of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. There will be a number of informal night sky observing sessions scheduled this semester. Attendance at these sessions is open to all students, faculty, staff and the interested public. There is 16" diameter Dobsonian telescope in the observatory atop the pier. There is a 12 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope used on the patio that provides good views of the sky. There is also a 6" refractor originally built by GMU students in 1975.

Please note that the observing session will be canceled if the sky is more than half overcast one hour before the session is scheduled to begin, or if it is too windy (>35mph) to open the observatory dome. If in doubt, check the weather forecast for Fairfax, Virginia, and check the Clear Sky Chart for the area and check back on this webpage before scheduled observing sessions.

The location of the observing sessions is the observatory at Research 1. Access to the observatory is limited. Guests will be met in Research 1 lobby by the main elevators. If you are late, you can stay by the elvators and someone will meet you, after you call the observatory at 703-993-9558 and have been acknowledged by observatory personnel. The observing sessions will begin near the times indicated below and will last approximately 1.5 hours weather permitting. The sessions are currently scheduled for specific Monday evenings. And, to learn more about the new observatory telescope coming to GMU visit the observatory website.

Observing Session Schedule:

Remember: Check here about 1 hour before coming to Research I in the event of clouds/rain/other reaasons for cancellation.

Monday 25 January 2010: CANCELLED
Monday 8 February 2010: CANCELLED - GMU is CLOSED (there is still 3 feet of snow in areas on the roof - I could not get to the observatory nor the observatory office).
Monday 22 February 2010: Start Time ~6:45PM.
Monday 1 March 2010: Start Time ~7:00PM.
Monday 15 March 2010: Start Time ~8:00 PM.
Monday 22 March 2010: Start Time ~8:15 PM.
Monday 5 April 2010: Start Time ~8:30 PM.
Monday 19 April 2010: Start Time ~8:30 PM.
Monday 3 May 2010: Start Time ~8:45 PM.

Enjoy your summer break.

PLEASE NOTE: If these dates are not convenient, or if you live in Maryland, or if you'd just like more observing opportunities, you may want to consider visiting the University of Maryland College Park Observatory. The director of the observatory is Elizabeth Warner, and she runs many great programs at the UMCP observatory.

ALSO NOTE: If you have the time, and the interest in more details about research in astrophysics, come join in our Astrophysics Journal Club.

Please attend for your own enjoyment! All are invited, so bring a friend.

Dr. Harold Geller
Observatory Director
Department of Physics and Astronomy
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
703-993-1276
703-993-1269(fax)