Located between the Morrow Plots and Smith Hall, the University’s Observatory stands not only as a passageway between students and outer space, but also as a historic landmark on the campus. Inside is an impressive 117 year-old telescope, which allows users to take a closer look at celestial bodies through a 12-inch refractor frame, according to the University’s Astronomical Society website.

This upcoming Moms Weekend, the Observatory will host one of its open houses on Friday, April 12 from 8-10 p.m. The Observatory is located at 901 S. Mathews Avenue in Urbana.The Astronomical Society at the University of Illinois, an RSO also known as UIAS, will be putting on the annual event, which will be student-run by UIAS volunteers.

“We’ve seen over 400 people come to our open houses throughout the course of the night,” said Mallory Conlon, president of UIAS and senior in LAS, about the success of the open house in years past. 

If the inside of the Observatory becomes too crowded, telescopes will be set up outside behind the Observatory for guests to continue stargazing, said Austin Edmister, UIAS member and sophomore in LAS.

“The telescopes set up outside typically have a four- to eight-inch mirror, which provides some visual advantages, but the bigger telescope is better for seeing detail,” Edmister said.

Telescope usage will also be monitored by trained members of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, who will also help run the event.

The Observatory will focus on viewing Jupiter, as well as groups of stars that will be visible that night, such as the Big Dipper and the Orion Nebula.

“Hopefully, around 10 p.m., near the end of the event, we will be able to take a look at Saturn, which is really beautiful,” Edmister said.

If the weather on Friday night does not allow for proper viewing, Edmister said that the open house will most likely be postponed to the third Friday of the month, April 19.

Hannah can be reached at [email protected].