Student Observing Message

The Observatory is now CLOSED for the Winter 2023 term for ASTR students. Best wishes for completing your final projects and exams!

(Last Updated: 2023-03-23 17:04:39)

For those students enrolled in astronomy classes in the Winter of 2023, the observatory is available for your use as indicated below. To find out if the observatory is open on any given night, see the announcement in the box above.

The observatory is located on the roof of the Loyola Residence. Ask the Residence Desk staff to let you through the secure door - your name will be on their approved access list. Make your way to the 22nd floor and head down the hallway away from the football field. On your left there is a stairwell door - go up two flights of stairs to reach the observatory control room. Note - given there are two flights of stairs, this is not a fully physically accessible space! 

You can call the observatory, only when it's open, at 902-420-5896. Dress warmly - the observatory has outdoor weather conditions - that means bring a coat, hat, and gloves!!!

ASTR 1001A or ASTR 1001B

The observatory is open on clear Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm (or 1/2 hour after sunset, whichever is later) to 11pm. To allow enough time to do your project, do not plan to arrive later than 10:15pm - in fact, the observatory may close if no students are present at 10:15pm. It is not open during winter break week.

To find out if the observatory is open on any given night, see the announcement in the box above.

You have a number of observing projects, or aspects of your project, that you can do - only some of them require you to use the observatory. One of them can use the observatory's Robotic Telescope.

The telescope assistants are astronomy students Maigan D, Devin W, and Fraser S. They are there to help you, but not to do your observing assignment. Be familiar with what you are expected to do (i.e. read your observing assignment handout) before you arrive.

Also be aware that if you intend to observe the Moon, it is not visible every evening.

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