Open House at Goodsell Observatory at Carleton College - Thurs. 11/09 at 7:00pm - Is A GO!!!

[Sureshks]

Hi all,

I'm putting together a group to head down to Goodsell Observatory on the Carleton College campus on Friday Nov. 3rd at 7:30pm. They conduct open houses the 1st Friday of every month, and I wanted to visit before it got too cold. I attended an open house several years ago, and really enjoyed it. This one is scheduled to run from 7:30-9:30pm, and is weather-permitting.

The observatory opened in 1886, and it's main dome houses a 16.2" Brashear refractor (circa early-1890s). The smaller dome houses an 8.25" Alvan Clark refractor from the same era. It's amazing to see such vintage telescopes in good condition, and still in use.

Starting in the 1870s, Goodsell Observatory was one of the most important observatories in the country, since it kept the official time for the major railroads from Chicago to Seattle, covering some 12,000 miles of track. It also published an important astronomical publication, produced some of the best early celestial photographs and was home to one of the nation's first state weather services. Herbert Couper Wilson was a Carleton alumnus who in 1911 help found the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers)... one of the most important American amateur astronomical groups of the 20th Century and beyond.

Goodsell Observatory address: 139 Olin Dr, Northfield, MN 55057

Website: https://www.carleton.edu/goodsell/

History of Goodsell Observatory: https://www.carleton.edu/goodsell/histo ... -goodsell/

Respond here if you're interested in joining us. We can meet at the Goodsell Observatory around 7:15pm on Nov. 3rd, or if possible, some people can carpool too. It's about 47 miles to the observatory from Minneapolis.

Suresh

[Sureshks]

Hi all,

Just a reminder about the open house at Goodsell Observatory on the Carleton campus in Northfield this upcoming Friday Nov. 3rd at 7:30pm.

As of now, the weather forecasts seem to be favorable. Please respond here if you're planning to come.

Suresh

[ArmandoBeiro@msn.com]

I will be going.

[krichter]

Hi Suresh. I will be going too. Just checked clearsky clock for Goodsell and looks good!

[Sureshks]

Hi Kirby & Armando,

Sounds good. As of now it looks like the weather may cooperate. Let's plan on meeting outside of the observatory at 7:15pm tonight. It starts at 7:30.

Suresh

[Sureshks]

Hi all,

The Goodsell Obs open house was rescheduled to next Thurs. Nov. 9th at 7:30pm due to weather.

From their website:

The forecast is in: we can't count on clear skies for tonight (Friday, Nov 3), so we will defer our open house to next Thursday (Nov 9th, 7:30-9:30PM) evening and hope for clearer skies then.

Please note: the open house next Thursday will follow a talk on Dakota astronomy by visiting science educator Jim Rock. This talk be from 5:30-6:30PM, in Olin 141 (across the path from Goodsell), and will be open to the public. All are welcome! See more info about the talk here.

Open Houses normally happen the first Friday of every month unless it is cloudy. If there is any doubt about evening viewing conditions, we will post a final decision here, just before the Open House (The final call on weather conditions will be posted by one hour before the scheduled start time).

Suresh

[RebeccaM]

The forecast is in: we can't count on clear skies for tonight (Friday, Nov 3),
so we will defer our open house to next Thursday (Nov 9th, 7:30-9:30PM) evening and hope for clearer skies then.

Please note: the open house next Thursday will follow a talk on Dakota astronomy by visiting science educator Jim Rock.
This talk be from 5:30-6:30PM, in Olin 141 (across the path from Goodsell ), and will be open to the public.
All are welcome! See more info about the talk here.

[RebeccaM]

LOL you beat me by 1 minute!

[Sureshks]

Hi,

We'll try again next Thursday Nov. 9th at 7:30pm.

Please reply here if you can make it.

Suresh

[RebeccaM]

Planning on it - Meet you there as I live in Northfield!

[cebye]

Cara and I plan to attend on Thursday

[Deane Clark]

I plan to be there.

[Sureshks]

Hi all,

I checked with Goodsell Observatory today. It looks like weather conditions may be favorable on Thursday evening, so the event is a go!!

However, they moved up the start time by 30 minutes. The open house now starts at 7:00pm and will run till 9:00pm. It will start right after a talk on Dakota Astronomy (by Jim Rock) finishes... it starts at 5:30pm. People can attend that talk before the open house as well.

Best,

Suresh

[Deane Clark]

That was really fun! Only a few clouds. We got to view through the 16”, which did a great job on Saturn and Jupiter. We also got to gawk at the 8” but not through it. It’s really cool watching the mechanical drive on the 16” do its thing. They really do a nice job maintaining that scope.