Did you know that UCI has it’s own observatory? The Observatory at the University of California, Irvine, is located in the fields on the outskirts of campus. The observatory has a large computer-controlled telescope and numerous other smaller, portable, telescopes.

The observatory hosts Visitor Nights, which are free and open to the general public, approximately 5 times per year. The next visitors night will be held on Saturday August 22nd from 8-10pm. You can use their telescopes to see Saturn, the Ring Nebula, open and globular star clusters. You can also listen to a lecture entitled “Star Clusters in the Milky Way” by Carol Thornton.

The Observatory is located on the UCI campus. Visitors should park in the ICS/Engineering Parking Structure at the corner of E. Peltason and Anteater Drives for a $7 fee. Free shuttle buses will transport you between the Parking Structure and the gravel road to the Observatory. Shuttles will depart every 10 minutes starting a half hour before and ending a half hour after the event. Only in the unlikely event of rain will Visitor Night be canceled, and a notice will be posted on their website by 3 pm that day.

To learn more about the observatory and visitors night head on over here.

Visitors Night
UCI Observatory
Saturday Aug 22nd
8pm-10pm