The Mount Lemmon SkyCenter will be the focus of this week’s What’s Up? Webcast as the Sky-Watcher team talks to Dr. Alan Strauss, Director, Director of the center, to learn what it’s like to run an astronomical facility, outreach/education and much more.
The Mount Lemmon SkyCenter offers science and astronomy educational and public outreach experiences. Part of Steward Observatory and the Department of Astronomy, the SkyCenter operates under permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
The SkyCenter is an exceptional science learning facility located at Steward Observatory’s “sky island” observing site just north of Tucson, Arizona. The SkyCenter builds upon the uniqueness of the 9,157 feet summit of Mt. Lemmon and on the extensive knowledge base at the University of Arizona to deliver educational adventures including:
SkyNights is a night-time observing program that provides the opportunity to peer beyond the blue horizons of the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter’s southwestern skies and explore astronomical wonders. Star charts, binoculars and the superb 32-inch Schulman telescope are just some of the resources of this program. This telescope is the LARGEST public dedicated telescope in the Southwest. The SkyNights experience is offered virtually every night throughout the year.
Astronomer Nights opens up nearly exclusive, extended access to the SkyCenter’s 32-inch Schulman telescope like a professional astronomer. This unique experience allows one or two visitors to observe with an astronomer/guide, be lodged on site in the SkyCenter’s dorm, acquire high quality images of objects of their choice, and have images processed and subsequently made available to them. Groups can be accommodated with adjustments in program and fees. There are no prerequisites on experience or education: just a curiosity about our universe and an interest in exploring it first-hand.
Workshops immerse you for several days and nights at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter’s mountaintop facility in the focused study of a topic in the sciences or arts. The in-depth instruction and hands-on activities will hone the skills of even the most accomplished student.
The Sky-Watcher What’s Up? Webcast is a live webcast held every Friday from 10am to 11am Pacific on the Sky-Watcher USA YouTube channel. Each week they discuss new astronomical topic including gear, visual and imaging techniques, interviews and more.
What’s Up? webcasts are free by tuning into the Sky-Watcher USA YouTube channel. Can’t watch it live? That’s OK, all webcasts can be watched whenever you like by visiting the YouTube channel.
For example, as part of the library of previous What’s Up? Webcasts you will find an episode where they sat down with master optician Michael Lockwood of Lockwood Custom Optics to talk about telescope optics and just how far they can be taken Mike started the company in 2006 to supply quality optics to amateur and professional astronomers, telescope builders, scientists, researchers, and industry. He can provide mirrors up to ~32″ in diameter from high-quality, precision annealed, monolithic borosilicate glass up to 2.1″ in thickness can produce slightly thinner borosilicate mirrors up to just over 40″ in diameter.
So if you are wondering what to get the astronomer in your life check out the telescope holiday gift guide segment. And if you are stuck at home looking for something to do or want to learn more about the latest in astronomy equipment, techniques and more then check out the past What’s Up? webcasts.
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