RIT Observatory Public Night: Sep 11, 2004

You can find this page on the Internet at

http://spiff.rit.edu/richmond/ritobs/public/sep11_2004/sep11_2004.html

Tonight is one of the rare dark, clear nights in Rochester. We will take advantage of the good conditions to ask you three questions:

1. Can you see the Milky Way?
2. How FAINT can you see?
3. How FAR can you see?

Can you see the Milky Way?

Here is a chart showing the location of the brightest stars (down to magnitude 3) in the sky tonight at 9:00 PM.

The set of 3 bright stars nearly overhead is called the "Summer Triangle". Near the horizon in the northwest sky (in the direction of the RIT campus) is the Big Dipper. Use these asterisms to orient yourself. Go outside onto the concrete pad and give your eyes at least 10 minutes to adjust to the dark. Can you make out the Milky Way? Mark its location on this chart.