Denison's Swasey Observatory

GRANVILLE -- Denison University's Swasey Observatory will be open to the public from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 25) if skies are clear.

Observatory Director Lauren Jones and Denison astronomy students will assist visitors in viewing the stars through the Warner & Swasey 9" refracting telescope in the observatory's dome and an 8" telescope set up at ground level. The telescopes will be accessible until 9 p.m.

Denison's Swasey Observatory opened in 1910. Open houses for community members are a tradition. "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."

An observatory open house is also planned for Nov. 29. Observatory open houses, of course, are dependent on clear skies, but Jones also has set a series of open houses in the Olin Hall planetarium and these programs take place in any weather. The next planetarium open house is scheduled for Nov. 8 with presentations at 7, 7:45, and 8 p.m.

Jones earned her doctorate at the University of Florida, where she also organized and taught open houses at the university's teaching observatory.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575