PRESS RELEASE

Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars possible highlights of Observatory open house

KOKOMO, Ind. — Learn more about NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission to discover worlds beyond our solar system at Indiana University Kokomo’s free Observatory open house this Sunday (February 9).

Patrick Motl, dean of the School of Sciences and professor of physics, will begin the open house at 7 p.m. with discussion of a recent paper based on TESS observations of a terrestrial planet being disintegrated by its host star.

“The planet is quite close to its parent star, a red dwarf, and appears to be falling apart, leaving a comet-like trail of dust,” Motl said.

After the presentation, stargazers may be able to see Saturn, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and the moon 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 9 p.m., weather permitting.

The Observatory is at 2660 S. Washington St. Free parking is available on campus.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.