The Denison University Observatory will hold another open house, weather permitting, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 26). The February skies will include views of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and the Orion Nebula star formation. Director of the Observatory Lauren Jones and Denison astronomy students will be on hand to help interpret the sky views.

Jones also plans to open the observatory on March 26 and April 23, as well as presenting another star show in the Olin Science Hall Planetarium on April 9. All events are free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to attend.

Denison's Swasey Observatory opened in 1910. If skies are clear, visitors will use the Warner & Swasey 9" refracting telescope in the observatory's dome and an 8" telescope set up at ground level.

Jones has opened the University's Observatory and Olin Hall Planetarium for regular open houses each semester. Open houses for community members are a tradition that dates back to at least 1963. "I enjoy giving community members an opportunity to learn more about astronomy and to use the Denison telescope to view objects in the night sky in a new way," says Jones. "These open houses also provide Denison students an opportunity to be involved in community service."

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575