The Fall 2012 star party was held on Monday, September 24. Over 450 participants attended, including students, faculty, and the general public.
The 11-inch Cassegrain telescope with a CCD camera and four 8-inch Cassegrain telescopes from the JHS Observatory were set up by the Clark Memorial Fountain. The first participants to arrive were treated to exceptional views of the first quarter Moon. As the darkness grew deeper we could observe a few nebulae and globular clusters. The first 400 to look through the telescope received a commerative t-shirt and treated to Krispy Kreme doughnuts; these items were provided by the Dean’s Office of the College of Science. It was a truly memorable time for all in attendance.
Special recognition goes out to the observatory teaching assistants, the members of the Society of Physics Students, and the faculty staff of the Department of Physics and the College of Science for their assistance and support.