March 11, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Department of Physics in the UAB School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics invites university students, faculty, staff and the general public to four nights of telescopic star and planet viewing from 7-9 p.m. April 2-5, as weather conditions permit.

Two high powered telescopes will be stationed in the parking lot between Campbell Hall and Bartow Arena, which can be accessed from 13th Street South. Participants, who are invited to bring their own telescopes as well, can expect to see spectacular up-close images of the moon, the planet Saturn and its great moon Titan as well as stars in the Orion constellation among other heavenly bodies. The celestial viewing sessions are part of global events related to the International Year of Astronomy.

UAB organizers hope the telescope viewings encourage interest in science and astronomy while providing answers to questions the public may have about space.

For more information on the International Year of Astronomy, log on to http://astronomy2009.us/.