Jupiter, as viewed on May 25, through UA's 16-inch telescope. (Image courtesy Dr. William Keel).

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Friday night marks The University of Alabama’s initial public sky viewing of the fall semester with a close look, weather permitting, at Jupiter and the moon.

Hosted by Dr. Ron Buta, professor in UA’s department of physics and astronomy, the free public viewing begins at 7:30 p.m. and uses UA’s 16-inch research grade reflector telescope housed in the dome atop Gallalee Hall.

Gallalee is located near the northeast corner of University Boulevard and Hackberry Lane.

To park next to Gallalee Hall during evenings prior to home football games, such as Friday night, observatory parking permits will be made available. For more information on public nights, phone 205/348-5050.

Future public nights include:

Friday, Sept. 29 – 7:30 (Gallalee roof) – the moon, Ring Nebula (Dr. Jack Sulentic)

Friday, Oct. 13 (tentative) – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – (Moundville) – star clusters, nebulae and galaxies (Drs. Bill Keel, Ron Buta)

Friday, Oct. 27 – 7:30 p.m. (Gallalee roof) the moon, Ring Nebula

Friday, Dec. 1 – 7:30 p.m. (Gallalee roof) the moon, Orion Nebula

The tentative Oct. 13 event would use the 16-inch and 17-inch telescopes located at Moundville Archaeological Park. The Moundville telescopes are on pads in a field across the road from the park’s museum. Parking is available at the museum and near the park’s conference center.

For more information about scheduled events, see http://www.astr.ua.edu/Public.html or phone 205/348-5050.