In April, Oswego was graced with a rare celestial event: a total solar eclipse. Now it's the moon's turn, with a lunar eclipse on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Although lunar eclipses (especially partial eclipses) are much more common than total solar eclipses at a given location, they are still a fascinating experience and can be enjoyed without any risk of eye damage.
On the evening of Sept. 17, students, faculty, staff and the general public are invited to join experts at the Rice Creek Observatory to view the partial lunar eclipse -- watching as the Earth's shadow will appear to take a "bite" out of the moon, starting at 10:12 p.m. and ending at 11:15 p.m.
The full event runs from 9 p.m. to midnight, with opportunities to additionally view celestial objects like Saturn, Uranus, Neptune -- and possibly their largest moons -- as well as double stars, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. Coffee, tea and hot cocoa will also be available free of charge to attendees.
Free parking is available at the Field Station, located at 193 Thompson Road in Oswego. Students in need of transportation can catch a van ride to Rice Creek, with prompt departures from the Marano Campus Center bus stop at 9:45 and 10:15 p.m. with an 11:15 p.m. return.
Since clear weather is needed for observing the night sky, interested participants should call (315) 312-6620 after 6 pm on the evening of the event to hear a recorded message announcing whether or not the weather conditions will allow the session to take place.
Virtual viewing of this event is also possible through a live stream on the YouTube.com/@PompeyObservatory channel.
Additional telescope observation nights for Fall 2024 include: September 13-15, 9 to 11 p.m. and December 6-8, 6 to 8 p.m.
Individuals with disabilities needing accommodations to attend this event should contact Rice Creek at rcfs@oswego.edu at least 48 hours prior to the event. Additional questions about the event can be directed to this same email.