DURHAM, N.H. -- On Saturday, April 24, 2010, the University of New Hampshire Physics Department will celebrate Astronomy Day with three special events on the Durham campus open to the public.

UNH lecturer John Gianforte will give an informative, family-oriented talk starting at 3 p.m. in DeMeritt Hall (Room 112) entitled "Enjoying Backyard Astronomy." Astronomy basics such as how to choose and use a telescope will be covered in the lecture.

Says Gianforte, "Have you always been interested in astronomy but never had the time to pursue it? Do you have a telescope that's gathering dust in a closet? Do your kids ask you questions about the stars and space that you just can't answer? If so, then 'Enjoying Backyard Astronomy' was prepared especially for you."

Immediately after Gianforte's talk UNH physics graduate student Richard Woolf will provide a brief overview on how to safely observe the Sun. Weather permitting, Woolf will also give a solar viewing demonstration. 

At 8 p.m., also weather permitting, UNH Observatory staff will host "Sidewalk Astronomy" with several telescopes set up on campus to view the Moon, Mars, Saturn, and more. If skies are poor for viewing on April 24 future "Sidewalk Astronomy" nights will be held. For details, see the Observatory website at http://www.physics.unh.edu/observatory.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

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Photograph available to download: http://www.eos.unh.edu/newsimage/moon_lg.jpg

Caption: The Moon

Credit: John Gianforte, UNH.