Smolen Observatory

10/22/2023

Tonight’s Observe the Moon Night event is canceled due to clouds.

01/29/2023

Comet ZTF is visible in the north. It is not quite as bright as the dimmest stars of the Little Dipper, so will be tough to see by eye. We will try to view it with the telescope at Thursday's Astronomy Night, but that is in the direction of campus lights, so it may be a challenge. To view it you should try to find a very dark location with a northern view. More info about the comet is here: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/spot-circumpolar-comet-ztf-c-2022-e3-in-binoculars/

11/19/2015

Tonight is Astronomy Night! Unfortunately the forecast calls for rain and cloudy skies, so we will not be able to open the observatory for telescope viewing. As always, there are still planetarium shows at 6:30 and 7:30.

10/15/2015

Today is our regular Astronomy Night on the third Thursday of the month! We have tentatively clear skies, so we should be able to open the observatory from 8:30-10:30. However the forecast calls for clouds to move in later tonight, so be sure to look up before coming over!

09/28/2015

Thanks to all who came to view the eclipse last night - we had a great time!! Don't forget to come back for our regular viewing nights on the first and third Thursday of each month (when the weather is clear).

09/19/2015

Today is September 19, International Observe the Moon Night. Unfortunately clouds have rolled in and rain is in the forecast, so we are going to have to reschedule the viewing for tomorrow, Sunday the 20th. The forecast for tomorrow is good so hopefully we will be able to observe!

09/14/2015

This month brings us two great opportunities to view the moon:
International Observe the Moon Night Sept 19 and a total lunar eclipse Sept 27.

Saturday September 19 is International Observe the Moon Night, an annual event to encourage people from around the world to look up at our neighbor, the Moon. We at SUNY New Paltz will be participating by opening Smolen Observatory to the public and pointing our telescopes at the moon from 7-9pm. There will also be astronomers, including volunteers from the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association, available to answer your questions and help you view the moon.

Sunday September 27 is a total lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes behind the Earth, into the Earth's shadow. Usually the moon is lit up by light from the Sun, but during an eclipse the Earth blocks Sun's light from hitting the moon, making it dark. The eclipse will begin at 9:07pm, when you can start to see the moon move into Earth's shadow. From 10:11pm-11:23pm the moon will be completely in shadow, and from 11:23pm-12:27am the moon will come out of the shadow. We will have the observatory open from 9-11:30pm to view the eclipse. If you can't make it to the observatory, just look up with your eyes! (Solar eclipses should not be viewed without special equipment, but lunar eclipses are completely safe, just like looking at the moon.)

Both events are free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome. Come and go any time during the events. Smolen Observatory is located on the south side of the SUNY New Paltz campus in the alumni soccer fields.

If it is too cloudy to see the moon with your eyes then we can't see it with a telescope! IOMN Cloud date: Sept 20 7-9pm. Cancellation info at 257-1110.

More information about Smolen Observatory, including directions, can be found here: http://www.newpaltz.edu/observatory/
More information about IOMN, NASA lunar missions, and the moon can be found here: http://observethemoonnight.org/

Please share this with members of the public who may be
interested, and encourage friends in other areas to find viewing
opportunities near them.

02/05/2015

Welcome back to the spring semester! We are resuming our regular Astronomy Night program on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Today, Feb 5, is the first Astronomy Night of the semester! There will be planetarium shows at 6:30 and 7:30 - remember to reserve your free ticket online at http://www.newpaltz.edu/planetarium/ Normally the observatory would be open from 7:30-9:30, but today the temperature is expected to be around 10 degrees, and there is likely lingering snow from this morning that hasn't yet been cleared. So stay warm inside and hope to see the skies next time!

» Current Students | » Faculty & Staff | » Future Students | » Parents | » Alumni, Donors & Friends | » Athletics | » Employment | » Give Today!

09/06/2014

Due to cloudy and rainy weather we are postponing to tomorrow, Sunday Sept 7!

09/04/2014

This Saturday September 6 is International Observe the Moon Night, an annual event to encourage people from around the world to look up at our neighbor, the Moon. We at SUNY New Paltz will be participating by opening Smolen Observatory to the public and pointing our telescopes at the moon. There will also be astronomers, including volunteers from the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association, available to answer your questions and help you view the moon.

The event is free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome. Come and go any time between 8 and 10pm. Smolen Observatory is located on the south side of the SUNY New Paltz campus in the alumni soccer fields.

If it is too cloudy to see the moon with your eyes then we can't see it with a telescope! Cloud date: Sept 7.

More information about Smolen Observatory, including directions, can be found here: http://www.newpaltz.edu/observatory/
More information about InOMN, NASA lunar missions, and the moon can be found here: http://observethemoonnight.org/

Come be a part of something big, as people all over the world observe and learn about the moon at the same time!

09/04/2014

Welcome back to the fall semester! We are continuing our regular Astronomy Night programs on the 1st and 3rd of the month. The Observatory will be open from 8:30-10:30pm. More info is available on our website: http://www.newpaltz.edu/observatory/publicviewing.html

» Current Students | » Faculty & Staff | » Future Students | » Parents | » Alumni, Donors & Friends | » Athletics | » Employment | » Give Today!