Solar Flair
Perkins Observatory will host daytime ‘Celebration of the Sun’ events on July 12, 19, and 26 instead of its regular Friday night sky watches. (Photo by Paul Molitor)
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University’s Perkins Observatory will host three daytime “Celebration of the Sun” events in July. The Saturday-only celebrations will be held at 4 p.m. July 12, 19, and 26 at the observatory, 3199 Columbus Pike (U.S. 23), Delaware.
The annual Celebration of the Sun replaces the observatory’s Friday night programs in July, when the days are longer and the sun rules the sky. Participants will celebrate, discuss, and observe the sun using special telescopes and eclipse glasses – weather permitting, said Tom Burns, director of the observatory.
Perkins staff and volunteers will help guests to observe sunspots and solar prominences – explosions on the sun’s surface, Burns said. He cautions it is not safe for people to look at the sun without appropriate eye protection and the careful supervision of trained astronomers.
Other planned “Celebration of the Sun” activities include rocket launches, sundial demonstrations, views of a 1,000-yard model of the solar system, tours of the observatory, and, of course, the Perkins ghost story.
The observatory will hold its regularly scheduled Friday evening programs at all other times. Those events include stargazing with the facility’s 32-inch Schottland Telescope – weather permitting.
Reservations are strongly recommended for all Perkins Observatory events as many programs sell out in advance. Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for children (17 and under), and $6 for senior citizens (62 and older). Tickets are $2 more if purchased at the door. To reserve tickets or determine at-the-door availability, call (740) 363-1257.
Founded in 1923, Perkins Observatory is an active research facility used by Ohio Wesleyan students and faculty. “The Place for Space” also conducts hundreds of public programs and welcomes tens of thousands of people each year. Learn more at perkins.owu.edu.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private, coed university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations, and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world practice. OWU’s 1,850 students represent 42 states and 37 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.