Steward Observatory kicks off its public lecture series Wednesday, with a talk by astronomer Don McCarthy on the 50th anniversary of a speech by President John F. Kennedy that described the rationale for planning a human mission to the moon. Read more
The Steward Observatory will launch the 84th season of its Public Evening Lectures with a talk on Monday. Excluding the period during World War II, the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory has been hosting a speaker series since 1922. Experts in the areas of astronomy and space science from the UA and across the nation host lectures on a range of topics.
Steward Observatory Lab Casts Mirror for San Pedro Mártir Telescope Astronomers from the United States and Mexico will converge on the UA on Aug. 26 to celebrate the casting of the 6.5-meter mirror that will be used for the San Pedro Martir Telescope.
Ever wanted to take a tour of one of the most world renown astronomical mirror laboratories in the world? Now you can. The UA's Steward Observatory is now conducting tours of the Mirror Lab facility on the east side of Arizona Stadium to the public.
"It's a unique experience for students and visitors to get the behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge optical technology involved in making these giant telescope mirrors" - Cathi Duncan, program coordinator.
The Mirror Lab produces the eyes that can see the universe, but it's actually in the bowels of the University of Arizona football stadium. And now, you don't have to just pass by any more. You can take a tour.
The world wouldn't have many new powerful optical telescopes - or be planning still more powerful future telescopes - if it weren't for the Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory beneath the east side of The University of Arizona's football stadium. The Mirror Lab is the only facility in the world that produces the giant, single-piece, lightweight telescope mirrors that are revolutionising astronomy. Steward Observatory now offers public tours that give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how the mirrors are made. Steps include mould construction, spin-casting in the lab's unique rotating furnace, and polishing and testing mirrors, all using unique technologies developed and perfected at the Mirror Lab. Tours are Tuesdays and Fridays, either mornings or afternoons, depending on the lab's scheduled work activities. Tours cost $15 per person, which helps defray costs for running the tours, and are open to adults and children at least 7 years old. Visitors are required to wear closed-toe shoes for safety and are encouraged to bring their cameras.
The University of Arizonas Steward Observatory will be open to the public on Wednesday night following a public lecture entitled "Black Holes and Brand-New Stars: Seeing Them in All Possible Colours".
Astronomy took root in the Arizona Territory in 1894 with the founding of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. In Lowell's wake came Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona. Steward populated the mountains around Tucson with telescopes, and the associated UA Astronomy Department has become one of the largest and most respected in the nation. Strong programs also were developed at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University Read more
For Raymond E. White Jr., an astronomy professor at the UA from 1964 to 1999, the Steward Observatory was a second home. Or perhaps it was his first, depending on the time of day, said his widow, Ruby White. The Steward Observatory's reflector was renamed the Raymond E. White Jr. Reflector yesterday in honour of White's dedication to his students and his work at the UA before he died in 2004.
The 21-inch optical telescope used by University of Arizona undergraduates for research and by the public for viewing stars and planets will be renamed this month to honour the late Raymond E. White, Jr. The telescope is housed in the historic 1922 Campus Station dome on the west side of Steward Observatory. It will be renamed the "Raymond E. White Jr. Reflector."