Orchard Hill Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orchard Hill Observatory |
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Orchard Hill Observatory, around 2011
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| Organization | University of Massachusetts Amherst | ||||
| Location | Amherst, Massachusetts, United States | ||||
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Coordinates
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42°23′38.62″N 72°31′17.63″W / 42.3940611°N 72.5215639°W
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| Altitude | 413 feet | ||||
| Weather | Amherst Weather | ||||
| Established | 1965 | ||||
| Website Orchard Hill Observatory |
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The Orchard Hill Observatory is a special building where people look at stars and planets. It's located at the highest spot on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus in Amherst, Massachusetts.
This observatory was built in 1965. It's a red brick building with a big 16-inch Cassegrain reflector optical telescope. This telescope helps people see far-away objects in space. The observatory often hosts events for the community. It's also open to the public on Thursday nights, so anyone can come and look through the telescope!
Contents
The Observatory's Telescopes
The Orchard Hill Observatory has an interesting history with its telescopes. When it first opened, it had a large 20-inch telescope. This telescope was a gift from someone who loved astronomy. It was even a smaller version of a much bigger 200-inch telescope!
A New Telescope Arrives
Sadly, a crack was found in the 20-inch telescope's mirror. This meant it could no longer be used. Around that time, the university bought a new 16-inch telescope. This new telescope was meant for a different building on campus.
However, the new location had problems with noise and shaking. So, the 16-inch telescope couldn't be set up there. It ended up sitting in a basement for about 10 years! People even called it the "Subterranean Telescope" because it was underground.
The 16-inch Telescope Finds a Home
Finally, the old 20-inch telescope was taken apart. The 16-inch telescope was then moved to the Orchard Hill Observatory. It was installed in the dome where the old telescope used to be. This 16-inch telescope was a big improvement and much easier to use.
Who Runs the Observatory?
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Astronomy Department takes care of the Orchard Hill Observatory. Students from the Five College Astronomy Club also help out a lot. The observatory doesn't get money from outside groups. It's mostly run by students, with help from one faculty member. It's part of the College of Natural Sciences/Astronomy at UMass.
What Can You See?
You can see many amazing things in space from the observatory! The people who work there keep a record of what they observe. Some cool things they've seen include:
- Albireo: This is a beautiful double star, meaning it looks like two stars very close together.
- Andromeda Nebula: A huge cloud of gas and dust where new stars are born.
- Milky Way Stars: Dense groups of stars in our own galaxy, especially near the constellation Cygnus.
- Jupiter: The largest planet in our solar system, along with its four biggest moons (called Galilean moons).
- The Moon: You can see the Moon in its different phases, like when it's almost full (a waxing gibbous Moon).
- Mars: The "Red Planet."
- Alcor & Mizar: Another famous double star system in the Big Dipper.
Five College Astronomy Club
The Five College Astronomy Club is a group for anyone who loves astronomy. You don't have to be an astronomy major to join! The club uses the Orchard Hill Observatory for special viewing nights. They meet on clear Wednesday and Thursday nights to look at the sky.
Club Activities
The club also goes on trips to other observatories and planetariums. They visit other interesting places related to astronomy. This club connects students from five different colleges: UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, and Mount Holyoke College. This helps students share their interest in space.
Sometimes, the club holds meetings to help students learn about astronomy careers. They also help students reach their academic goals in astronomy. But mostly, the club is about having fun and meeting new friends who love stars and planets!
- When they meet: Usually Thursday Nights at 7:00 PM in LGRT 1033. On clear Wednesday and Thursday Nights, they meet at dusk at the Orchard Hill Observatory.
- When they started: The club was officially formed in Fall 2011.
