Welcome!
Observatory visits: With the close of classes, the observatory is on its summer schedule. It is open clear Wednesday nights one hour past sunset until midnight. In May sunset is about 9 pm EDT. The general public is welcome; there is no admission fee. For details see the observatory hours.
RECENT NEWS
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
May 11, 2011: See the images taken by introductory astronomy students this semester with our Rehoboth, New Mexico telescope.
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
