All eyes were on the stars Friday night during the grand opening of SFU’s new Trottier Observatory. The multimillion-dollar facility features a massive telescope with a 27-inch mirror and astronomy inspired outdoor décor, including illuminated maps of the seasonal night skies.
Families flocked to the mountain and explored the new grounds around the observatory. More than 1,500 people attended, and there were dozens of telescopes to look through with volunteers to explain the night sky. Tours inside the observatory were fully booked, as people of all ages lined up to take a peek at Jupiter and her four Galilean moons in orbit. Many outdoor telescopes were pointed at Venus, Jupiter and prominent stars.
The observatory is open to SFU’s astronomy students and the general public. It will also be a key feature in upcoming Starry Nights @SFU, a series of free star gazing events, which will now take place in the plaza around the observatory. For more information on upcoming events with Starry Nights @SFU, go to http://www.sfu.ca/science/trottierobservatory/events.html.
