TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –The University of Alabama’s astronomy department will host its fourth free public sky viewing of the spring 2005 season at 8 p.m., Friday, April 8. The viewing will focus on the planets Jupiter and Saturn.

Dr. Gene Byrd

Dr. Gene Byrd, professor of astronomy, will give a short lecture on Jupiter and Saturn before guests look through the new telescope in the dome on top of Gallalee Hall. Gallalee Hall is located on the UA campus near the intersection of Hackberry Lane and University Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.

All are welcome to view the sky through UA’s facilities using the new, 16-inch reflector telescope, installed in January. The new, Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope has two and one-half times the light gathering power of the old telescope, computer positioning, and allows the use of digital imaging instruments.

For more information on events or questions about weather and event scheduling, visit http://www.astr.ua.edu/PublicNights.html or call the department of physics and astronomy at 205/348-5050. Large groups are encouraged to call and give advance notice so the department can plan accordingly.

The department of physics and astronomy is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College is 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.