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Star Parties! Jewett Observatory is our direct window on the heavens. In spring, summer, and fall, we hold public star parties, where any interested person can come to view the cosmos through the historic 12-inch Clark. 2008 open nights are listed here:

  • Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 6:30 p.m. Total Eclipse of the Moon Totality lasts from 7:01 p.m. to 7:51 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 12, 2008, 8:30 p.m. Mars & Saturn
  • Saturday, May 10, 2008, 9:00 p.m. Saturn
  • Saturday, June 14, 2008, 9:30 p.m. Saturn
  • Saturday, July 12, 2008, 9:30 p.m. Jupiter & Saturn
  • Saturday, Aug 9, 2008, 9:00 p.m. Jupiter
  • Saturday, Sept 6, 2008, 8:30 p.m. Jupiter
  • Sunday, Oct 4, 2008, 8:00 p.m. Jupiter and Venus
Planet-watching highlights are in blue, but most public evenings also feature a crescent moon, star clusters, nebulae, double stars, and other surprises. All are welcome! Please dress warmly, even in summer. Clouds render all astronomical objects invisible, so don't come if you can't see any stars out. All events cosponsored by the Palouse Astronomical Society.

More about the observatory. | Directions to the observatory. | Mars Event.

The James Richard Jewett Observatory boasts the second-largest refracting telescope in the state of Washington; a grand 12-inch Alvin Clark & Sons, with the original lens polished in 1887-1889 by the same optician that fabricated the world's largest (40-inch) lens at Yerkes Observatory. The present dome and support building were designed in 1950 and dedicated in 1953. The philanthopy of Mr. and Mrs. George Jewett of Spokane made the project possible, and it was named after George's father, a professor of Arabic at Harvard, and a "friend of astronomy for many years."

The observatory is used primarily for student "laboratories" and also contains 10 portable telescopes for hands-on education.

         
                         
                         
                         
 

Contact us: , 509-335-4994 | Accessibility | Copyright | Policies
Astronomy Program, Department of Physics, 1245 Webster Hall, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-2814 USA
Observatory telephone: 335-2155 (use 335-4994 for messages)
Observatory coordinates: 46 deg 43 m 43.5 s N. Latitude, 117 deg 09 m 09 s W. Longitude