Redesigned Hirsch Observatory at Rensselaer open to the public

Troy, N.Y. — With an impressive mechanical whir, the dome above Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Hirsch Observatory revolves over your head. As the telescope moves on a giant steel arm, you look through the scope to see the tilted rings surrounding a beautiful buttery yellow orb — Saturn.

Rensselaer has completely refurbished its Hirsch Observatory, which sits atop the Jonsson-Rowland Science Center. To celebrate the modern makeover of the more than 65-year-old observatory, Rensselaer will be holding an open house Friday and Saturday nights — Feb. 16, 17, 23, and 24 — from 7-10 p.m. The Observatory also will be open every Friday evening through November from 8-10 p.m. Anyone from the community is invited to come.

“On a public observing night you will be able to look at nebula, a couple of galaxies, planets, the craters on the moon, the rings around Saturn, and other objects like that,” said Heidi Newberg, Rensselaer professor of astronomy and world-renowned astronomer. 

The telescope, an older but reliable 16-inch scope, had fallen into disrepair following years of use by students and faculty. Newberg, a Rensselaer alum, has fond memories of the telescope and led the charge to have the observatory and telescope remodeled. 

“It was the first telescope that I ever looked through,” she said.

Newberg secured a grant from the National Science Foundation, which was matched by several private donations to fund the $70,000 refurbishment. Work was completed on the scope in December.

“Now it is an experience like you would have at a major observatory. It is on a smaller scale, but it is an excellent teaching tool for students and a great way to reach out to the public,” Newberg said.

The improvements took more than four years to complete. The telescope now has state-of-the-art controls.  It has an automated, revolving dome and a new computerized system that features a menu of the stars that can be found in each evening’s sky. Users pick the star they want to see from the menu and the scope and dome revolve to focus on the star. The scope will then track the star across the sky as the Earth gently rotates.  

And perhaps most important to the researchers who will be using it, the telescope can be operated remotely from a “warm room” adjacent to the dome, allowing them an escape from the sometimes very cold observatory. A mirror was also put in to allow for detailed digital photography. The telescope now allows visitors and researchers to more clearly see stars and planets, as well as also comets, supernovae, and galaxies. 

Newberg plans to hand control of the Hirsch Observatory to the Rensselaer Astrophysical Society, a student-run organization that allows budding astronomers to hone their skills on a strong telescope. The Society will be hosting the open house.  

The Observatory serves as one of the only observatories in the Capital Region with regular public viewings. It also is a tool for the next generation of astronomers to get hands-on-experience with equipment comparable to that found in a national observatory.

The original observatory, which was located at a different spot on campus, was dedicated in 1942. It was moved to the top of the Science Center in the 1980s. It is used by students and faculty as well as observational astronomy researchers and members of the Astrophysical Society in their laboratory exercises. 

All visitors to the Hirsch Observatory are encouraged to dress warmly. Check the Observatory’s Web site at www.rpi.edu/dept/phys/observatory to see if the evening’s skies will be clear enough for a good viewing before you head out.  

The Observatory is located on top of the Jonsson-Rowland Science Center on Rensselaer’s Troy campus.  A campus map can be found at www.rpi.edu/virtual_tour/RPI_Campus_Map.pdf.

Contact: Gabrielle DeMarco
Phone: (518) 276-6542
E-mail: demarg@rpi.edu