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RSS FeedsWelcome to the website of the Cody Middle School Observatory. In here you can find some of the latest images from our collection of telescopes. The observatory contains a 14" Celestron telescope and several other smaller telescopes which help expand the 8th grade student's knowledge and fascination of the universe. For more information about the facility click on the "About" link on the on the navigation pane to the left. [Read more about the observatory]
The facility is primarily available for use within the school district but is also available for use by other groups and organizations. Pete Idema is the manager of the observatory and Amos Olson and Brian and Brandon Reavis manage the website. Enjoy!
Two very cool solar events are happening in the next couple weeks. First, on May 20th in the evening before sunset (starting around 6:30pm), there will be an annular eclipse. This will be partially visible from the Rocky Mountain West. The moon won\'t completely block out the sun, but it will take a pretty big bite out of it (so to speak)! The other event will occur June 5th. Venus will transit the sun, meaning we can watch it (through a properly filtered telescope ONLY), pass across the disk of the sun. It will appear as a small black sphere. The transit will begin just after 4pm and go past sunset.
This Thursday, November 17, 2011, is the peak of the Leonid meteor shower. While the early morning hours are always the best and the last quarter moon will be shining brightly at that time, it is still worth looking for meteors if you are able. Our CMS Astronomy Club will be meeting at the observatory from 7-8 pm on the 17th, hoping to see a few flashes of light as we look skyward.
If you have a small telescope (or large) or a good pair of binoculars then you will want to point it near the handle of the Big Dipper tonight to see the supernova in M101 as it reaches it peak brightness. What a great opportunity. The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) is located at the top of an equilateral triangle formed with the two stars that make up the end of the Big Dippers handle.
School has started back up and that means the next season of the Cody Middle School Astronomy Club will, too. Once again this year we will meet once a month and middle school students and their families are welcome to attend as many meetings as they choose. Our first meeting will be next Thursday. Hope to see you there!
Clear Sky Clock