The Olin Physical Sciences building on the Florida Tech campus, with the Ortega Telescope and its silver dome rising above the roof. Several Astronomy Day activities will take place here. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A hands-on, knowledge-packed day of astronomy is available to the general public starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, as the Student Astronomical Society at Florida Tech, joined by the Melbourne and Brevard astronomical societies, hosts their inaugural Astronomy Day.
Perfect for students from elementary-school age and up but fun for all ages, Astronomy Day will feature both solar and nighttime observing, including use of the university’s 32-inch telescope; presentations from acclaimed Florida Tech faculty; and a raffle, at $1 per ticket, to help raise funds for the Student Astronomical Society featuring star charts, posters and other astronomy-related goodies, with the grand prize a set of high-powered observing binoculars.
Daniel Batcheldor
“Florida Tech is home to world-renowned faculty and cutting-edge equipment,” said Daniel Batcheldor, interim department head of the Physics and Space Sciences Department in the College of Science.
“We are thrilled that Astronomy Day allows us to share those attributes with the broader Brevard County community.”
Most events will take place in either Olin Engineering Building or Olin Physical Sciences Building on the Florida Tech campus. Here’s a schedule of some of the main events for the day:
Solar Observing (Olin Physical Sciences Building, 4th floor and ground level):
• 2-6:15 p.m.
Presentations (all are held in the Olin Engineering Building Auditorium, Room 118):
• 2-2:50 p.m.: Sam Durrance, “Astronomy from Space, A Personal Story”
• 4-4:50 p.m.: Darin Ragozzine, “Planets, planets everywhere, but where’s a drop to drink?”
Professor one-on-one (Olin Physical Sciences Building lobby):
• 2-4 p.m.: Interact with professors Veronique Petit and Eric Perlman
Ortega Telescope open house (Olin Physical Sciences Building, 4th floor):
• 2-5 p.m. with Daniel Batcheldor
Solar Observing (Olin Physical Sciences Building, 4th floor and ground level):
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