What a way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

The ONU Observatory will be open to the public from 9 - 11 p.m. on Friday, March 20, to celebrate the Spring Equinox and a new moon, according to Dr. Jason Pinkney, manger of the observatory.

"The spring, or vernal equinox is the start of spring and it is marked by the northward passage of the Sun across the celestial equator," said Pinkney. "There also happens to be a total solar eclipse on this day, but it will not be visible from the United States." 

He continued: "Since the Moon is lined up with the Sun, its phase will be the New Moon, and that means that the light of the Moon will not interfere with our dark sky. Targets for our telescopes will include Venus, Jupiter, Comet Lovejoy, and deep sky objects."

The event is contingent on the weather and will be cancelled if the expected cloud cover is over 50 percent. Check this web page after 2 p.m. on Friday for cancellations.

Coming in April

There will be a total lunar eclipse on Saturday, April 4, but the middle of the eclipse occurs at 7 a.m. EST and the Moon sets in the West around 7:19 a.m. No public event will be held this early, but those who rise a few hours before the Sun might see about half of the event by looking west.

The following three events at the observatory are scheduled in April.

• Friday, April 10, 9-11 p.m. -  "Galaxies of Spring"
• Friday, April 24, 9 -11 p.m. - "Craters and Maria; Observing the Moon"
• Friday, May 8,  9-11 p.m. - "Spot Mercury and Venus"