The public is invited to view the Pleiades, a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, through Missouri University of Science and Technology’s 16-inch telescope in January.

The Missouri S&T Observatory will open its doors at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. The sky must be clear for observing and the session length will vary.

Viewings at the observatory are free of charge and no reservations are required. Each observing session is open-ended. Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by an adult. All visitors must be able to ascend a short set of stairs in order to use the telescope.

Also known as the Seven Sisters the Pleiades star cluster is visible from almost every place inhabitable on earth. The cluster can be viewed from the North Pole as well as the southernmost tip of South America.

This is the first scheduled Visitors’ Night this semester. Other Visitors’ Nights will take place on Feb.  12, March 7 and 21, and April 3 and 27. All viewings are subject to weather conditions.

Built in 1973, the Missouri S&T Observatory is located at 1550 N. Bishop Ave. (Highway 63 North), adjacent to the university’s Stonehenge replica, north of McNutt Hall and west of St. Patrick’s Lane.

For more information, or to have your email address added to an event notification mailing list for future updates and weather cancellation notices, contact Ken Goss by email at ken.goss@mst.edu.