The public is invited to view the Dumbbell Nebula through Missouri University of Science and Technology’s 16-inch-wide telescope on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The Missouri S&T Observatory will open its doors at 8 p.m. 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.

The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula and is approximately 1,360 light-years away.

This is the fourth scheduled Visitors’ Night this semester. The next Visitors’ Night will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16. 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 Missouri S&T graduate student Ken Goss by email at ken.goss@mst.edu.