Public Observation Nights return to Millikin's Requarth Observatory

Public Observation Nights at Millikin University will take place in the Requarth Observatory, on the roof of the Leighty-Tabor Science Center, every clear Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. until November 2 (weather permitting). Public Observation Nights are free and open to the public. Over the past 15 years, these observation nights have educated and entertained thousands of people on Millikin's campus and in the surrounding Decatur community.

“Public Observation Nights provide excellent opportunities for the campus and Decatur communities to view the wonders of the night sky through some of the best telescopes in the state. This fall it will be possible to see both the Moon and Saturn, as well as exceptional views of Jupiter and its four large moons as Jupiter comes closer to Earth than it has in almost 60 years. A wide variety of stars, star clusters and galaxies will also be observable,” said Dr. Casey R. Watson, professor of physics and chair of Millikin's Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The current officers of the Millikin Chapter of the Society of Physics Students — Ken Sandoval, Lissa Mpinganzima, Edwin Monroe and Kendra Marnul — will run the Public Observation Night each week.

In addition to the main 20" (0.5 meter) telescope in the Requarth Observatory, Leighty-Tabor Science Center also features an observation deck on the fifth floor that surrounds the base of the observatory dome. This observation deck provides a platform on which 8" telescopes, which are commonly used in Millikin’s astronomy labs, will also be prepared for viewing.

The Leighty-Tabor Science Center is located just off Fairview Avenue in Decatur. The southeast entrance of the building will remain unlocked during observation nights to allow guests access to the science center’s elevator. For more information, contact Dr. Casey R. Watson at crwatson@millikin.edu or visit https://millikin.edu/public-observation-night.