Open House this Friday celebrates International Year of Astronomy
April 15, 2009
KOKOMO, Ind. – Indiana University Kokomo plans to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy with an open house at the observatory on campus this Friday, April 17, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
The Department of Natural, Information and Mathematical Sciences at IU Kokomo, along with the Kokomo Astronomy Club, will host the event marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo first turning a telescope to view the heavens.
The main telescope at the IU Kokomo observatory will be open. In addition, Patrick Motl, assistant professor of physics, will give a public lecture on Saturn – a prominent guest for that evening’s sky – and the Cassini mission that has been studying the ringed planet since 2004.
The International Year of Astronomy, www.astronomy2009.org, was launched earlier this year to honor Galileo's achievement.
In the event of clouds or otherwise disagreeable weather, the open house will be rescheduled for Friday, April 24.
For more information, contact Motl at (765) 455-9305, or e-mail at pmotl@iuk.edu.
Indiana University Kokomo serves a seven county, primary service area in north central Indiana. The campus offers more than 40 academic programs including four graduate degrees.
