Jupiter, Mars, possible highlights of final Observatory open house of the academic year

KOKOMO, Ind. - The Indiana University Kokomo Observatory will host its last free Observatory open house of the academic year this Sunday (May 18).

Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Sciences and professor of physics, will begin the open house at 8 p.m. with a presentation about recent observations of potential oceanic life on planet K2-18b from the James Webb Space Telescope.

"K2-18 is a red dwarf star about 120 light years from Earth, while the exoplanet K2-18b is a world larger that Earth, having a radius about two and a half times larger than our own planet," Motl said.

After the presentation, stargazers may be able to see Jupiter and Mars, the open star cluster Praesepe, the great globular cluster in Hercules (M13), and other objects on the moonless evening through the Observatory's telescopes. They include a six-inch Takahashi refracting telescope and a 16-inch Meade reflecting telescope mounted together. The Takahashi provides exceptionally sharp images of planets, while the Meade allows viewers to see fainter objects in the sky, due to its larger light-collecting area.

Observation will continue through 10 p.m., weather permitting.

The Observatory is at 2660 S. Washington St. Free parking is available on campus.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.