This is one of the times of the year when several of the universities in the state that have observatories open them up for public viewings. One of those is Morrison Observatory at Central Methodist University in Fayette.
Physics Professor Larry Peery at CMU says beginning tonight, the Observatory is open from 7:30 until 9:30 Thursdays in the fall. Participants can use either a 10 inch reflecting telescope or the 12 inch Clark Refractor that dates back to 1875, when it was used at the now-defunct Pritchett College in Glasgow (it was moved to Fayette and CMU in 1935).
Peery says staff will help people see some “deep sky things,” including star clusters and nebulas, and into October and November, Jupiter will be up early enough to be seen during public viewing hours.
Some of the other observatories in the state that offer fall public viewing are the Richard D. Schwartz Observatory at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Baker Observatory at Missouri State University in Marshfield and Laws Observatory at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Those interested can check with local observatories to see if they offer public viewing opportunities.