WELCOME TO THE DARK SKY OBSERVATORY
Our next Evening at DSO event is Saturday, September 30th – the Moon and planets is ON!
We have partially clear skies and we are going to go for it! Ticket holders should show up between 8:30 and 9:00. I'll see you there!
There is only one session, from 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Ticket holders should plan to arrive between 8:30 and 9:00pm. The session will begin with a short PowerPoint slide show about the activities and the objects that will be observed. Targets for this event included the full Moon, the ringed planet Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune. There will be opportunities to shoot a picture of some objects through the 32" telescope’s eyepiece, using your cell phone or other camera.
If the event is clouded/rained-out, we will have indoor activities including a PowerPoint slide show, discussion, and a facility tour.
It will only be canceled in the event of dangerous travel weather. Ticket-holders should check this page, the DSO website, or our Facebook page for any last minute decisions if dangerous weather is in the area.
See the Public Access area of the DSO website for directions and map to DSO. Note that the Parkway is closed at Deep Gap but the Phillips gap jog across it, shown on our map on the non-Parkway route, is open. All phone map apps (Google, Waze, Apple Maps) will lead you there if you search for Dark Sky Observatory (in Purlear, NC), but get on 221 before you enable them so as to not be led on a long bypass route.
For more information, go to our secure ticketing site by clicking here.
See the Public Access area of the DSO site for directions and map to DSO. All phone map apps (Google, Waze, Apple Maps) will lead you there if you search for Dark Sky Observatory (in Purlear, NC).
About Dark Sky Observatory
Appalachian State University's Dark Sky Observatory (DSO) is the research facility used by faculty and their students to conduct observational research in astrophysics. It is equipped with four telescopes, each used regularly for CCD imaging and photometry, with spectrographic instrumentation also used at the 32-inch.
Established in 1981, the observatory is located about 20 miles northeast of Boone at an elevation of a kilometer. Far from major cities, its dark skies provide a good setting for digital imaging and spectroscopy done in stellar and solar system research projects. Details about the instrumentation and capabilities of the various telescopes is available at the Facilities link at the top of this page.