Flanders Hosting Tour Of Observatory At New Milford High School

NEW MILFORD — Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is sponsoring a tour of The John J. McCarthy Observatory, located on the grounds of New Milford High School, on Tuesday, April 3. Those wishing to participate should meet at the observatory; use the entrance from Larson Road and drive to the southwest corner of the parking lot, where the observatory is located.

The program will begin at 7:30 pm. Attendees should dress very warmly, say organizers.

Imaging of galaxies, planets, asteroids, the moon, and comets is done regularly by staff and users of the observatory on state-of-the-art equipment both for scientific investigation and “capturing the magnificence of the heavens.”

Observatory Director Monte Robson will be the tour guide. The observatory began in 2000 as a result of Mr Robson’s desire to excite students to science in order to improve critical thinking skills of tomorrow’s citizens. In 2005 the observatory officially became a nonprofit, and developed a relationship with the school board, and the town of New Milford.

The facility includes a 1,000-square-foot outdoor observing deck with four telescope piers. Volunteers handled the design and primary building of the facility. More than 90 percent of all funding has come from private and foundation donations.

The observatory also an impressive artifacts collection, the Don Besaw Space Library with more than 400 books on space-related topics, and a 3,000-square-foot Galileo’s Garden. For more information visit www.mccarthyobservatory.org.

Cost is $15 per person ($12 for members of Flanders Nature Center), and registration is necessary. Call Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust, 203-263-3711, extension 12, or visit www.flandersnaturecenter.org for reservations or additional information.