Sep 04 2009
McAuliffe-Discovery Center Observatory Opens!
It was another exciting day at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center today as the long anticipated opening of the center’s observatory took place. In March, 2009, the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium was transformed into a new center and opened its doors to the public. Sections of the center are opening in phases as funding and equipment are made available, today was the opening of a new phase!
The observatory is equipped with a 14” Celestron scope, a solar scope, CCD imaging system where images from the observatory can be projected on plasma display screens throughout the Discovery Center.
As part of the observatory celebration, a new show in the planetarium theater was shown “Two Small Pieces of Glass”. This presentation showcases the development of the telescope from the telescope that Galileo used 400 years ago to the technology that drives the modern telescope of today. This is an excellent history lesson in telescopes and optics.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is proud of its new addition and this observatory will only further enhance the mission of the center to “explore, discover, and be inspired”. For hours of operation, events, and Discovery Center information, please visit www.starhop.com.
Greetings; - thanks for stopping by! Ratty - come for a visit - it is a wonderful experience. Bob - you can come visit as well. It is nice to have a wonderful place like this to enjoy, and for me, it is across the street from where I work - I visit at least once a week to fly the simulators or just have fun with an exhibit or to peek through a telescope.