On Nov. 6, students gathered at Crane Observatory for an evening to see the Moon and Saturn up close, held in the Stoffer Science Hall from 6:30-8 p.m.
The event invited students, faculty and even people from the Topeka community to show up to observe Saturn and the Moon’s glowing surface through a large telescope. Volunteers from the physics department guided attendees and assisted with the telescope.
“We have been in this building with the Crane Observatory since 1960. Before that, it was in another building which got blown down by the [1966] Tornado,” said Karen Camarda, physics professor and department chair. “I have been here for 23 years, and we’ve been having public observing sessions since then. We had a faculty member who I believe was studying binary stars, but now because of the city lights, it’s really used for public viewings.”
Inside the observatory dome, the large refracting telescope was aimed toward Saturn, revealing its bright rings and the planet’s faint glow. The Moon’s surface details, including craters and shadows, were also clearly visible through the lens.
“We are looking at Saturn because it is one of the planets visible at this time of year and we can see it behind the cloud, since it is kind of a cloudy night,” said Sophia Kramer, senior mathematics major.
The telescope at Crane Observatory is one of Washburn University’s oldest hidden gems. It was built over 150 years ago.
“If anyone’s interested in volunteering at the observatory, they can contact Dr. Camarda or Brenda Culbertson, and they’ll be willing to set up time for them to learn how to use telescopes,” said Reagan Payton, sophomore physics and philosophy major.
Camarda has been working for 23 years and conducting public observing sessions since then. She said back in the 50s it was used for research purposes but because of the city lights, now, it is used for public viewing.
“I think it’s really cool to see it in person. It’s kind of a surreal moment and it’s also crazy to me how even with such an old telescope, we can see planets, or stars or even the Moon and so on,” said Kramer.
Students and locals filled the small dome, taking turns to look through the telescope and learn about its long history on campus. The event offered a relaxing and fascinating break from everyday campus life as a peaceful night under the stars.
Edited by Anson Appelhanz and Stuti Khadka
