Welcome!
Observatory visits: The observatory will be closed for Christmas break through the first week of January. During the January interim, the observatory will be open only for Wednesday night public nights. For details see the observatory hours.
RECENT NEWS
December 19, 2012: See the images taken by introductory astronomy students this semester with our Rehoboth, New Mexico telescope.
August 29, 2012: Five variable stars discovered in the Spring 2012 class Astronomy 211 (Planetary and Stellar Astronomy) are credited to Calvin students as new discoveries.
March 20, 2012: Two Calvin students have received grants from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium to pursue summer research in astronomy. See news article on the main Calvin page.
November 10, 2011: Four more asteroids received permanent designations, bringing to 105 the number of asteroids with discovery credit given to the Calvin observatory.
September 6, 2011:A type IA supernova has gone off in the nearby Pinwheel galaxy (M101). Compare the picture below (taken September 4) with one taken before the explosion
December 20, 2010: Asteroid (596) Scheila has had an outburst, sprouting a tail, and becoming much brighter! Observations with the Calvin-Rehoboth telescope indicate the enhanced brightness is due to a new coating on the asteroid surface. See details here.
November 28, 2010: Asteroid 2008 SG12 received the name Jackuipers!
March 21, 2011: Asteroids 2005 YO, 2008 DU4, 2009 AF17, and 2009 WD25 received the permanent designations 268488, 269147, 269374, and 269554, respectively. This brings to 77 the asteroids discovered with the Calvin College Observatory to receive such a designation! See the full list of discoveries.
PREVIOUS NEWS
Campers in the first Calvin Astronomy Summer Camp discovered six new variable stars! For details on the scientific discoveries made in this science summer camp, click here.
At 7 pm on February 17, Calvin hosted a special presentation on Benjamin Banneker, the first African-American scientist. See the details in the event flyer.
A class of Calvin students set off for the American Southwest in January for a three week course "Astronomy in the Southwest". Relive the adventure through their daily web log.
Observatory Director: Prof. Larry Molnar 616-526-6341
Telescope Dome on campus: 616-526-6435
