IU Kokomo Observatory Open to Public for Viewing of Eclipse

February 20, 2008

Kokomo, IN—Prepare to be moonstruck on February 20 when the first lunar eclipse of 2008 will be visible to observers in North and South America and western Europe. Come and share this event with members of the Kokomo Astronomy club who will be taking pictures of the eclipse during the event. The Indiana University Kokomo observatory will be open to the public at 8:30 p.m. This event is the first lunar eclipse since 2004 that will be viewable during reasonable hours. Admission is free, but seating is limited and will be on a first come first serve basis. Rick Steldt, Ph.D., states, “Totality starts around 10 p.m. and lasts about 45 minutes. The partial phases start around 8:45 p.m., and we will be open from around 8:30.”

Housed within the only heated dome found in a public observatory in the state of Indiana, the 16-inch Meade telescope with a Takahashi 6-inch refractor mounted on top allows for “astronomical” viewing. The observatory dome uses a shutter system with a special ground-glass window installed over the viewing slot, and the heated dome avoids the need for equipment to adjust to changing temperatures after the dome opens. Steldt adds, “Our observatory is heated, unlike most! If it is cloudy, we will not be able to see the eclipse.”

The observatory is located at 2300 S. Washington St. on the IU Kokomo Campus.

According to NASA:

The penumbral eclipse will begin around 7:37 p.m.

The partial eclipse will begin around 8:43 p.m.

The total eclipse will end around 10:01 p.m.

The mid-point eclipse will occur around 10:26 p.m.

The total eclipse will end around 10:51 p.m.

The partial eclipse will end around 12:09 a.m., February 21

The penumbral eclipse will end around 1:16 a.m., February 21

(NASA web site http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/13feb_lunareclipse.htm)

For more information contact F. Rick Steldt, Ph.D., at 765 455-9305.

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IU Kokomo Observatory Open to Public for Viewing of Eclipse