Astronomy Exploration
Como Planetarium
Como Elementary School Sky Theater
780 Wheelock Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55117
(651) 293-5398
www.curriculum.spps.org/extended/astronomy/comoplanetarium/pages/home.htm
The Como Planetarium hosts a family show in December for a small admission fee. School groups schedule visits, and large private groups may be able to do so.
Eisenhower Observatory
Eisenhower Community Center
1001 Highway 7 (3rd floor)
Hopkins
(952) 988-4077
www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/district/CommEd/fc-observ.html
A donation is requested, and reservations are required. It is run by volunteer experts.
Macalester Observatory
Macalester College
1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 5105
www.macalester.edu/astronomy/public/index.html
The Macalester Observatory offers public stargazing during the school year, weather permitting. The schedule will vary with student availability.
Onan Observatory / Minnesota Astronomical Society
Baylor Regional Park
10775 County Road 33
Norwood Young America, MN 55397
www.mnastro.org
The Onan Observatory at Baylor Regional Park is a fabulous facility located close enough to the Twin Cities (about 25 miles west of Eden Prairie just off of Highway 5 near Norwood/Young America) to make the drive, yet far enough away to provide dark skies for viewing. It is operated by the Minnesota Astronomical Society and has exceptional equipment that allows for observational capabilities typically out of reach to most educators and students. The Society opens the observatory to the public once or twice a month, and often in conjunction with regularly scheduled MAS “star parties.” Members provide big telescopes and warm welcomes, with occasional slide shows. The parties and public viewing are free to the public, but park stickers are required. Be aware that public stargazing generally happens whether or not the weather is good (slide shows may be shown in the event of cloudy skies), but the MAS “star parties” are generally canceled in the event of weather nonconductive to stargazing.
If you go, please do not use unfiltered flashlights, as the white light dilates the pupils and spoils the view. Red filters are fine. The website above will tell you more about the society and the observatory, including schedules, what to expect if you attend, visitor guidelines, directions and more.
Staring Lake Outdoor Center
13765 Staring Lake Parkway
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
www.edenprairie.org/vCurrent/live/article.asp?r=1580>
The Staring Lake Outdoor Center periodically holds "Star Watch" evenings where ages 8+ can come to learn about the night skies and view them with their own scopes and/or with the Staring Lake telescope. There is a minimal fee of $5 per person.
The Center is the lucky recipient of the Larson Telescope, the Group 128, 16" Cassegrain telescope formerly located at the Onan Observatory. Proper housing for the telescope will be put in place, hopefully in the spring of 2007, allowing for additional astronomy programs at Staring Lake.
U of M Department of Astronomy
Public Viewing
University of Minnesota
Tate Laboratory of Physics
116 Church Street SE, Room 450
(612) 626-0034
www.astro.umn.edu
On many Friday nights during the fall and spring, Astronomy students at the U welcome the public to join them in observation of the stars. The viewing is held on the roof of the Tate Laboratory of Physics. Be prepared for indoor or outdoor viewing, and be sure to call one hour ahead of the scheduled time to verify that students will be there. You will hear a recorded message.
The website will provide you with schedules, directions and parking.