Image by: Brad Hoehne (long exposure photo - note the "ghostly" figures as people move about during the exposure)
Quick Links:
Image by: Brad Hoehne (long exposure photo - note the "ghostly" figures as people move about during the exposure)
Perkins Observatory is an active research facility used by the faculty and students of the OWU Physics and Astronomy Department. However, we DO have many public programs (day and night) for those interested in Astronomy.
PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE!
We do not take ticket orders via email or fax. Please call in or mail your orders.
(DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE!)
NOTE: Tickets purchased on the day of the program cost $2.00 more each. |
We Accept all Major Credit Cards!
|
Call (740) 363-1257 Sorry to say we do not have "normal" business hours. So,
leave a voice message or call |
The brochures below have more detailed information on our programs and ticket information.
Download a
Copy of one of our brochures, |
|
REGULAR PROGRAMS - Friday or Saturday Evenings
Our Schedule is a bit complex coming this year. Please be sure to read it carefully! If you don't need the entire brochure and just want to order tickets, download our Regular Program Order Form to print out and mail in!
| Our
public nights are fun for the whole family! Individuals, families, and
groups of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. See
Below for examples of the types of things we have to offer you! The brochure contains program DATES, TIMES, an ORDER FORM, and important DETAILS about the programs which everyone should read! IMPORTANT !!: Groups of more than 10 people must purchase advance tickets! Perkins Observatory does sell tickets at the door when space permits, but we are limited to 80 people. At the door tickets are first come, first serve and cost an extra $2.00 for each ticket. If you do not have tickets but would like to attend a program, please call (740) 363-1257 before driving out to see if we have room for you. We hate to turn people away at the door. Schedule subject to change! |
Schedule in a Nutshell:
We have public programs on ALMOST EVERY Friday and
Saturday night throughout the year, Schedule subject to change! Programs Dates for 2008: Starting at 8 P.M.: January 11, 18, 19, 25, 26 February 1, 2, 8, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 March 1, 7, 14, 15, 28, 29 April 4, 5, 11, 18, 19, 25, 26
Starting at 9 P.M.: May 2, 3, 9, 16, 17, 30, 31# June 6, 7, 13, 20, 21, 27, 28 July 12, 19, 26
Starting at 9 P.M.: August 1, 2, 8, 15, 16, 22, 23
Starting at 8 P.M.: September 5, 6, 12, 19, 20, 26, 27 October 3, 4, 10, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 November 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 22 December 5, 6, 12, 19, 20
Why the varying start time? Daylight Saving Time and the late sunsets of summer.
# - Dates in Brochure are not correct. |
*CELEBRATION OF THE SUN! - Note for July 1st to the 26th, 2007 : We will not have any weekend evening public programs. We are doing a special series of programs called "Celebration of the Sun!" During early summer, when the sun sets too late to schedule evening programs, Perkins will instead host late afternoon activities to celebrate, talk about, and observe with special telescopes (weather permitting) our incredible "day star," the sun. Those programs all begin promptly at 4 P.M. and will be held on the following Saturday afternoons:
July 12, 19, and 26
Call (740) 363-1257 for details and to purchase tickets!
NEW VISTAS IN ASTRONOMY - Adult Lecture Series
This lecture series meets on one Thursday night each month, and is geared toward a more adult audience. It is a "mini-course" in astronomy, in which OSU and OWU professors discuss their current research and any new findings in their area of expertise! Tickets for the entire series are available at a discount. All lectures begin promptly at 8 pm.
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS FOR 2008
Please Note that this schedule should be considered tentative. While we hope that no changes will occur, Perkins Observatory has no control over the schedules and duties of its guest lecturers and reserves the right to change speakers and topics for a given date without prior notice.17 January -
Measuring the Accelerating Universe by David Weinberg21 February - The Nearest Stars by Jennifer Johnson
13 March - Worlds on Fire by Scott Gaudi
17 April - Stellar Rotation and Stellar Ages by Donald Terndrup
(Note Title Change)15 May - Observing with the Large Binocular Telescope by Christopher Kochanek
12 June - Black Holes and Time Warps by Richard Pogge
17 July - What Life Might Be Like in the Solar System by David Ennis
(Date Change)21 August - The Birth of Neutron Stars and Black Holes by Todd Thompson (Date Change)
18 September - Complete History of the Universe (Abridged) by Barbara Ryden
16 October - The Panchromatic Universe by Anil Pradhan
13 November - The Lives of Quasars by Paul Martini
18 December - Hubble Space Telescope & Servicing Mission 4
by Bradley Peterson- If you just want to order tickets, call (740-363-1257) or download our New Vistas Order Form.
SPECIALLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMS - Day, Night, at Perkins, or Elsewhere
SPECIAL PROGRAM Brochure
If our regular programs don't meet your needs, then why not schedule something just for you and your group? We can come to speak to your classes at your school, or you could bring them to Perkins for a daytime field trip. Do you have lots of Cub Scouts or Home School children? Come see us for a special daytime or evening program. We will work with you on these, and try to give you what you want. Date availability varies according to our schedule and that of the university's. All dates are on a first come, first serve basis.EXTRA SPECIAL PROGRAMS
At one time Perkins Observatory rented itself out to host the occasional wedding, birthday party, fund raiser, or other unusual event. However, we no longer rent the observatory for NON-ASTRONOMY programs, events, or parties.
Our programs ~generally~ operate as follows. However, because of changing conditions in the sky, our schedules, and special astronomical events, all this is subject to change on short notice. We'll try our very best to show you and/or your family a good time!
Perkins programs almost always consist of the following:
ORIENTATION AND SAFETY TALK
- So everyone knows what's going on. Be careful in the dark!
- Topics vary with the seasons of the observable sky. We might take a "Nickel Tour of the Universe," or learn all about "Space Crud," or "The Lifestyles of the Huge and Stellar."
- How does the Civil War relate to Perkins, and what is that pig doing on the history page? What happened to the 3rd largest telescope in the World? Hear our Ghost Story!
Perkins programs may include one or more of the following:
- Weather permitting. We use the large telescope in the dome, as well as smaller ones on the lawn. We also have solar telescopes for use during daytime programs. We do NOT cancel or reschedule programs because of cloudy weather!
- We can do these for daytime groups if you ask us to.
Other activities, not group-oriented, that are part of the programs:
- Learn a bit about the Universe!
- We have lots of popular books and periodicals on Astronomy.
- Lots of them! Each one has astronomy software to enjoy.
- By popular demand, we have many cool astronomy items to take home!
- Toys, games, puzzles, and computers for our younger guests.
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 meteorologist!) 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.
Please call us and purchase tickets before driving up to the Observatory.
740-363-1257
Regional Map
Close up Map
Click image for a more detailed map.
We are almost 10 MILES north of the junction of US 23 (High Street) and I-270 in Columbus.
We are just ONE QUARTER MILE south of the junction of 315 and US 23 (about 2 MILES south of Delaware).
We are 8/10 of a mile north of Cheshire Rd. (Use your Odometer! It works! We have tried it!)
Our drive is on the RIGHT as you drive north, on the LEFT as you drive south.
There is a lighted sign down by the road but many people miss it, so look carefully (ODOT removed our big, helpful green road signs)
Drive straight up the drive way, do not take any turns from the drive way. The drive way is one way and loops counter clockwise (right to left).
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
We do not take ticket orders via email or fax. Please call in or mail your orders.
(You
will need Acrobat Reader to open 
