Observatory Open House Wednesday, November 30

By Sydni Walker

COMMERCE,TX—The Texas A&M University-Commerce Planetarium is hosting an open house at its observatory from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, weather permitting. It is free and open to the public.

This is a chance for community members to visit the observatory and look through the telescopes. “Jupiter is exceptional right now, and the details we can see through the telescope are absolutely superb,” said Cheri Davis, assistant planetarium director.

The observatory is located about five miles south of Commerce off Texas Highway 50, turn east on County Road 4208 and travel half a mile. The entrance to the observatory is on the left. It is operated by the A&M-Commerce Planetarium and is utilized with the astronomy classes and labs. It houses a number of telescopes ranging from an 8-inch to a 16-inch housed in a 12-foot dome.

“Bring your family, a friend, or even a date and come early to see all the great wonders through the telescopes,” Davis said.

For more information and specific directions go to the Planetarium website: 
http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/communityOutreach/planetarium/observatory.aspx, or contact the Planetarium by phone at 903-468-8650.