Foothill Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. H ...
owned and operated by Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) and
Foothill College
Foothill College is a public community college in Los Altos Hills, California. It is part of the Foothill–De Anza Community College District. It was founded on January 15, 1957, and offers 79 Associate degree programs, 1 Bachelor's degree pro ...
. It is located on the college's campus in
Los Altos Hills, California
Los Altos Hills (; ''Los Altos'', Spanish for "The Heights") is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2020 census. The town is known for its affluence and expensive residential ...
(US). The observatory is used by students enrolled in the introductory astronomy lab on campus, which is part of the college's thriving astronomy for non-scientists program, serving over 800 students per year. A Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope was donated to the observatory and went into operation in 2007.
Conditions permitting, the PAS opens the observatory for public viewing every clear Friday night from 9 p.m. to about 11 p.m., and for solar viewing every clear Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. As of 2022 the schedule is reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated precautions. Always check the PAS website for schedule specifics.
See also
*
List of observatories
This is a list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and location. The list also includes a final year of operation for many observatories that are no longer in ...
*
Andrew Fraknoi
Andrew Fraknoi (born 1948) is a retired professor of astronomy recognized for his lifetime of work using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible and popular for both students and the general public. In 2017 Fraknoi retired from his p ...
, former Chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College (retired 2017)
References
#
External links
Peninsula Astronomical Society
(Foothill College)
Foothill College Astronomy Department
Forecasts of observing conditions.
* Meade LX 200 Telescope
Astronomical observatories in California
Buildings and structures in Santa Clara County, California
Tourist attractions in Santa Clara County, California
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