Program Info, News, & Events
Friday Evening Public Programs
Public Programs starting at 9PM Friday Night
Ticket availability for upcoming weekend programs
Schedule subject to change!
| Jul 30th | No Tickets Available |
| Aug 6th | A Few Tickets Available |
| Aug 13th | Available |
| Aug 20th | Available |
| Aug 27th | No Tickets Available |
News Update: Our 2010 brochure is now available here. Please note that the fees for our programs have increased effective the beginning of 2010.
Want to be a friend to the Observatory?
Join the "Friends of Perkins Observatory" group on Facebook.
WANT TO COME TO ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS?
Please call first and order tickets before you make the drive up to the observatory.
740-363-1257
NEED DIRECTION?
Please Call us or use these directions.
IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO USE MAP QUEST OR ANY OTHER MAPPING WEB SITE. THEY DO NOT WORK WELL IN LOCATING US.
IMPORTANT! See BELOW for quick information or HERE for more detailed Public Program information and how to find us.
Adults:
Children:
Seniors:$ 7.00
$ 5.00
$ 5.00As of 2010 - tickets and fees increase. See the 2010 Brochure for details.
NOTE: Tickets purchased on the day of the program cost $2.00 more.
We Accept all Major Credit Cards!
Call (740) 363-1257 to purchase tickets.
(DO NOT EMAIL OR LEAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER ON VOICEMAIL! )
Perkins Observatory
P.O. Box 449
Delaware, OH 43015
32" Schottland Reflector
(740) 363-1257
FAX: (740) 363-1258
"Current" Conditions
2,000 Points of Light
On any given night of the year from a dark, rural location, 2,000 stars light up the sky.
You can light up the sky over Perkins Observatory in the same way. Rising costs have made it increasingly difficult for its small but dedicated staff to engage in its public mission: to show the people of Central Ohio the wonder and majesty of the universe they live in. Over the years, we have reduced our staff to the bare bones. With the switch of our Building Superintendent to part-time status, Perkins no longer has a single full-time employee. Despite those reductions, we have managed to increase our public activities and the number of people, especially children, we serve.
Those of you who love the night sky have been extraordinarily generous with both your time and financial help, and we thank you. Now, we need your help one more time.
If 2,000 people, 2,000 Points of Light, will contribute $200 each, we can continue our mission unimpaired.
Half of your gift will go into the Perkins Endowment, the interest on which will keep us open for decades to come. The other $100 will be used to make building repairs (including much- needed repairs to our roof), build new exhibits and displays, and help with ongoing costs. To show our gratitude, we will associate your name (or the name of any honoree you pick) with one of the over 2,000 stars on our large, publicly-displayed star map. (Sorry, we get to pick the star). We will also send you a certificate honoring your help, mention your contribution in the newsletter, and add you to the monthly newsletter mailing list at your request.
Families, corporations, and fraternal organizations need not limit themselves to a single Point of Light. Why not honor several -- or many -- members of your group by making them a “star” on our map?
You can mail your contribution by using the handy form on the back or by writing 2KPL and the name of your honoree on the memo line of your check. Please mail to:
Perkins Observatory 2KPL
PO Box 449
Delaware, OH 43015
Or give us a call at (740) 363-1257 and schedule a trip to one of our weekend public programs. We’d be honored to receive your gift in person. If you become a Point of Light, Perkins can continue its public stargazing sessions for many years to come.
Perkins Endowment Fund Passes the $1,500,000 Mark!
BUT PERKINS STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP!!
We are the ONLY observatory in Ohio which conducts hundreds of public programs for tens of thousands of people each and every year. However, in 1998, our major source of funding was cut off!
We have limited openings for our Friday night programs throughout the remainder of the year (see below). Please call
(740) 363-1257
REGULAR WEEKEND PROGRAMS - Fun for the entire
family!
NEW VISTAS IN ASTRONOMY - An adult lecture series!
SPECIAL PROGRAMS - For school groups, scouts, and more!
10 things to remember about our programs:
- Because of limited space, please purchase tickets in advance! We often sell out in ahead of time. Please do not come unless you have called first! We do not have "normal" business hours, so you may need to leave a message if no one is here. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE!
- We have a capacity of 80 guests.
- Groups of 10 or more should call at least one week in advance and arrange tickets. This way we can insure we will have enough tickets to accommodate the group.
- Our programs are dedicated to science education. We teach the current scientific understanding of astronomy and physics as presented by the majority of our scientist peers around the world. Above all, our programs are fun and educational for all ages!
- Programs are held rain or shine. Therefore, tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to other nights. We do on occasion cancel a program (i.e. - Level 3 Snow Emergency, power outage, University needs, etc). If we do, we will make arrangements with those who have already purchased tickets for that night.
- Looking through telescopes is not guaranteed! We love to look through telescopes as much as you do. However our definition of CLEAR is not the same as the weather person's! Ohio weather is not predictable. Therefore our programs emphasize educational activities such as an astronomy talk or tour of the building. Observing is a bonus only if it is clear enough to do so. Because of changing sky conditions, we often do not know until the program starts if we will be observing or not. (Sorry, we are not meteorologists!) Sometime we get clouded out during the observing session and sometimes it clears halfway through the program if it starts cloudy.
- Dress for the weather! NO PETS PLEASE!
- Because of limited parking and safety, only paying guests or volunteers are allowed on the property during programs.
- For the safety of all participants, late-comers are not permitted on the property or to drive past the "Absolutely No Late Entry" sign which will be placed in the middle of the drive after the program starts. Please arrive on time. Doors open one hour before the start of the program. (Hint: This will allow you time to enjoy our wonderful exhibits and displays!)
- Other than our weekend public programs, we do not have "public" hours. If you wish to come to the observatory any other time, you should arrange a special program (click link to learn about the fees, etc.) at least 2 weeks in advance. It is first come, first serve on all dates & times, and also dependent upon our schedules.
- To learn more about what we do, see our PUBLIC PROGRAM INFORMATION page.
July, 2010
Problems? Questions? Comments?
If you wish to contact us, send e-mail at perkinsw(at symbol here)owu(period here)edu or call us at (740) 363-1257
PERKINS WEB PAGE. Written and Maintained by Don Stevens. Some material written by Robert Martino.
Images by Don Stevens and Robert Martino unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright 1996-2009, Perkins Observatory, all rights reserved, etc. etc.Thank you, now get back to work!
Web space provided by Ohio Wesleyan University.
