TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s astronomy department will hold a free public sky viewing that will focus on Ring Nebula at Gallalee Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15.

Dr. Gene Byrd, professor of astronomy, will give a short lecture on the Ring Nebula before guests look through the telescopes on the roof of Gallalee Hall.

This is the third public viewing of the semester. Gallalee Hall is located on the UA campus near the intersection of Hackberry Lane and University Boulevard.

Contact UA’s department of physics and astronomy at 205/348-5050 to check on sky conditions and for more information. Cloudy conditions are not conducive to star gazing.

The department of physics and astronomy is housed in The College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state with 6,600 students and 360 faculty. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.