Stargaze at Moraine Valley’s Observatory Open Viewing

August 17, 2018

View craters on the moon or the glow of stars at Moraine Valley Community College’s telescope open viewing nights in 2018. This is the 16th year of free public viewings. The schedule includes the following Fridays:

Viewings will be canceled if the sky is cloudy or there are high winds. Dates and times are subject to change.

All viewings are held at the telescope dome on the G. Jack Bradley Observation Deck, located on the west side of the college’s Nature Study Area, off Kean Avenue near 107th Street. Observers can park in lots east of Building P or in the west section of the Building D parking lot and then walk on the path to the observation deck. Children must be accompanied by an adult or supervisor.

Krista Syrup, professor of environmental/earth science, is hosting the viewings starting this year. Tom McCague, retired associate professor and amateur astronomer for more than 40 years, built the telescope using common hardware store items and donated it to the college. The telescope is a 6½-foot Newtonian reflecting model with a 13-inch diameter. Attendees will have a chance to look through the telescope and are encouraged to bring their own if they have one.

Observers should dress for the weather, wear insect repellent and can bring binoculars or telescopes if they have any. Occasionally, the International Space Station passes into view. This season should lend to good views of Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mars.