Asteroid is topic of free Observatory open house

What is the risk of the earth being hit by an asteroid?

Learn more about it at Indiana University Kokomo’s free Observatory open house Sunday, March 9.

Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Sciences and professor of physics, will begin the open house at 8 p.m. with a discussion of recent work and the current understanding of risks from the asteroid 2024 YR_4.

“The good news is that it does not appear the object will hit earth,” Motl said.

After the presentation, stargazers may be able to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and the moon, as well as highlights from the winter hexagon 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., Kokomo. Free parking is available on campus.