The Beehive Cluster.

The public is invited to view the Beehive Cluster of stars through Missouri University of Science and Technology’s 16-inch-diameter telescope on Tuesday, March 21.

The Missouri S&T Observatory will open its doors at 9 p.m. that night for the viewing. 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 view the object through the telescope.

The Beehive Cluster is one of the nearest and brightest open clusters in the sky. It has been known to astronomers since as early as the first century. Part of the constellation Cancer, the Beehive Cluster looks to the naked eye like a Nebula on nights with dark skies.

This is the fourth scheduled Visitors’ Night this semester. Other Visitors’ Nights will take place on April 3 and April 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.