April 10, 2025
Look to the sky! Ferris State’s refurbished Rawlinson Observatory debuts Friday to focuses on moon, upcoming NASA mission
Ferris State University’s refurbished Rawlinson Observatory will be ready for stargazers to get an up-close view of the moon and learn more about an upcoming space mission at an event Friday.
“Our main goal is to have our students and community guests taking in the wonders of our sky,” said assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy Dinesh Shetty. “There has been much work done to be able to offer this event, so we are excited to have the observatory useful and available.”
Astronomy enthusiasts or just folks who are curious about heavenly bodies are invited to participate in the event, planned for 9 p.m. April 11 in the Robinson Quad area.
Guests are welcome to enjoy a visual experience under any skies that evening and have the opportunity to visit the revamped observatory nearby on the fourth floor of the Science Building.
Shetty received help from a student organization in refurbishing the observatory, which opened in 1965 but has been closed for several years.
Shetty said a long-range forecast for clearing skies the evening of their event brings more promise to the occasion.
“It is the night of the full moon. So, we will have a couple of our telescopes trained on its craters and other features,” Shetty said. “Even a cloudy evening will allow us to show guests the renovated observatory area and would allow for up-close examination of our telescopes.”
Shetty said it’s a good time to be an astronomy student. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s program “Artemis” is set to launch.
“They will be making a 10-day journey to the Moon in 2026, but not landing the craft,” he said. “Artemis was established in 2017, and there was a test flight of an unmanned craft in 2022. Getting to this point may have us as excited as NASA about the developments.”
Beyond volunteers who did the physical work to bring the observatory back in action, Shetty said the university has been an active collaborator.
“The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning provided financial support for new telescopes, along with College of Arts, Sciences and Education Dean Randy Cagle,” Shetty said. “We are also thankful that the Physical Sciences Department agreed to sponsor this debut event.”
There will be food available for guests who attend this moon viewing and observatory visit, and Shetty said NASA’s Launch Services Program has provided outreach items to distribute.
Long range forecasts for April 11 call for a high temperature of 52 degrees and lows in the lower 30s, so those attending are asked to dress appropriately.