The general public is invited to join astronomer John Zielinski for an evening at Rice Creek Field Station's observatory. Participants will have the chance to gaze through the observatory's large 16" wide telescope inside the rotating dome to view celestial objects like the moon, the bright planets, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.

Since clear weather is needed for observing the night sky, interested participants should call (315) 312-6620 after 6 pm on the evening of each event to hear a recorded message announcing whether or not the observation session will take place that evening.  Prior to the evening of the event, this same number can be dialed to access a pre-recorded detailed description of the upcoming session.

Children accompanied by adults are welcome at these events.

Student Transportation

Since the Centro Green Route Bus does not run on Saturdays, Rice Creek typically offers a van shuttle for observatory nights during the fall and spring semesters. More information will be posted here closer to the start of each event. Note: the March 2 event takes place on main campus at the Shineman Center, so no transportation is provided.

March 27–29: Due to mechanical issues with Rice Creek's van, student van shuttling will likely not be available for these sessions. We will post updates here if this changes. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Accessibility

We welcome people of all abilities to Rice Creek Field Station. Observation Sessions are fully accessible to individuals who use a wheelchair. The observatory can be accessed via the sidewalk that passes through the pavilion from the parking circle. Individuals can view celestial objects through portable telescopes and projection or video eyepieces affixed to the large fixed telescope. Accessible restrooms are located inside the main building. So we may best accommodate your needs, please call or email at least one day in advance if possible: 315-312-6677 or rcfs@oswego.edu.

Dates

Upcoming dates (weather dependent) include:

• Total Lunar Eclipse Watch Party: Monday, March 2, 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3 (at Shineman Center)
• March weekend sessions: Friday–Sunday, March 27–29, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
• May weekend sessions: Friday–Sunday, May 22–24, 10–11:59 p.m.
• July weekend sessions: dates TBD
• Lunar Eclipse Watch Party: Thursday, Aug 27, 10 p.m. through Friday, Aug 28, 2 a.m. (95% eclipse)

Questions

For questions about this program, please reach out to Rice Creek Field Station staff at 315-312-6677 or rcfs@oswego.edu.

Rice Creek Field Station, a unit of SUNY Oswego, is located 1.5 miles south of campus at 193 Thompson Road in Oswego.

Image credit: Steven J. Scott, (c) 2024