Washburn Observatory, which has hosted public star-gazings since its opening in the 1880s, announced Thursday it will close for renovations until summer 2009.
The domed building on Observatory Drive has most recently housed humanities research. In preparation for renovations set to begin in November, the research institute has moved out. The Letters and Science Honors Program will move in after construction completion.
The observatory is known for its bi-monthly star gazings where the dome is opened for the public to view visible celestial images through a state-of-the-art telescope.
Jim Lattis, director of UW Space Place, an outreach UW astronomy facility, called the telescope “the perfect telescope for visual observing.”
“It’s hard to find a better telescope to look through. The optical quality in it is very, very good,” he said.
The public is usually allowed to visit during the evening of the first and third Wednesday of each month, but more dates have been added because of the imminent closing. The last star-gazing dates will be Oct. 10, 17 and 24 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. This month, Jupiter will be visible, Lattis said.
During renovations, the telescope will stay locked up and inaccessible in the dome. However, Lattis said the public is invited to UW Space Place, 2300 S. Park St., on the second and fourth Fridays each month from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for rooftop viewing. For more information, visit: http://www.spaceplace.wisc.edu
