The FABservatory: FAB Roof-top Observatory
The Fine Arts Building (FAB) is the temporary home of the Department of Physics' 12" Cassegrain telescope while the CCIS building is under construction. This temporary observatory is called the "FABservatory" (= FAB + Observatory)
Regular Observing Hours
The Observatory re-opens for the 2010 observing season on Thursday Jan. 7, at 7pm!
The observeratory is open every Thursday evening during the academic year!
In 2010, the observatory will be open:
Winter Hours - Every Thursday Evening
January & February: 7 - 8 pm Thursday evenings (closed on Feb 18)
March: 8 - 9 pm Thursday evenings
April: 9 - 10 pm Thursday evenings until April 8
Fall Hours - Every Thursday Evening
September: 9 - 10 pm Thursday evenings
October: 8 - 9 pm Thursday evenings
November & December: 7 - 8 pm Thursday Evenings
School groups and clubs (such as Scouts or Guides) can
arrange private visits on other nights of the week. Contact
Ross (observatory at phys.ualberta.ca) to arrange
a visit.
Visitors can expect to see the Moon, the Orion nebula and many different star clusters and binary star systems throughout the winter.
Planet Visibility:
Venus will be visible in the evening by late February. We will be able to observe Venus change its phase during the rest of the winter.
Mars will be visible most of the winter, but this year it will not appear particularly large so it will be difficult for us to see many details on its surface. It is closest to the Earth on January 27.
Jupiter will be setting by 8pm in early January. If we are lucky, we'll manage to see it during early January. If you miss Jupiter in January, you'll have to wait until next autumn to see it.
Saturn will become visible in the early evening by early March. Saturn's rings can be seen clearly through our telescopes and is very impressive.
Moon Visbility:
The Moon will be visible when it is in its waxing crescent or waxing gibbous phase,
on Thursdays Jan. 21 & 28, Feb. 25, and March 18 & 25.
The craters of the Moon look very fascinating through the telescope,
so we particularly recommend bringing children on these dates.
As always, this is a free service to the community.
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| Photo of FAB | The 2008 lunar eclipse. |
| Photo by Doug Hube |
Directions
1. The Fine Arts Building is located at the South end of HUB mall, next to the LRT station. It is labeled "FAB" on the campus map (see map below).2. Enter the building via the main entrance on the West side of the building. (This is the side facing the bus zone.)
3. Walk past the FAB art gallery (or visit it if it's open -- they often open new shows on Thursday evenings) and continue in a straight line until you see the big staircase to your right.
4. Walk up this staircase, up to the second floor. As you ascend the staircase, stay to the right at each splitting of the stairs. (We post signs to help you out.)
5. When you reach the 2nd floor, turn right and walk until you see the Department of Music's display cabinet.
6. Turn Left and walk in a straight line until you reach the doors to the stairwell.
7. Walk up two flights of stairs, until you reach the door to the roof.
8. Walk outside and enjoy!
Please wear warm clothes since the observatory is outdoors.
News:
Jan. 29, 2009: Article in the Edmonton Examiner.
Jan. 21, 2009: Article about the FABservatory in the UofA's Express News.
Jan. 8, 2009: Grand Opening of the FABservatory for 2009! This year is the International Year of Astronomy. You can find out about all sorts of fun astronomy events at http://www.phys.ualberta.ca/iya/.
Mar. 2, 2008: Facebook group created. Feel free to join.
Feb. 26, 2008: Physics Update article about the new observatory.
Feb. 20, 2008: Lunar Eclipse! Thank-you to the approximately 100 visitors who showed up.
Feb. 12, 2008: Primary mirror has been cleaned and the main telescope tube has been installed onto the base.
Feb. 4, 2008: Construction of the observatory on the roof-top of the Fine Arts Building (FAB) is almost finished. Later this week we will be installing the telescope in the structure. If all goes well, we will be open for public viewing of the lunar eclipse on Wed. Feb. 20.
Summer, 2006: The old observatory on the roof of the Avadh Bhatia physics building was dismantled. The telescopes were put into storage in the CEB building and the old physics building was demolished.
Nov. 16, 2004:
Physics Update article about
the old observatory.