Learn about new NASA telescope at free IU Kokomo Observatory open house

Learn more about a NASA telescope launched in August at the Indiana University Kokomo Observatory’s free monthly open house.

Patrick Motl, professor of physics, will begin the open house at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, with discussion of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, which launched Aug. 30, and is designed to map the cosmos and solve major mysteries involving dark energy and exoplanets.

The telescope, originally called the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, is named after Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief of astronomy and the “mother of Hubble,” for her foundational role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope.

After the presentation, stargazers may be able to see Saturn, the Andromeda galaxy, the ring and dumbbell nebulae, and the wild duck cluster 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.