The public is invited to view Jupiter through Missouri S&T’s 16-inch-diameter telescope on Wednesday, May 9. All viewings are subject to weather conditions.

The Missouri S&T Observatory will open its doors at 11 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. Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by an adult.

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun and a gas giant, a large planet of relatively low density consisting mainly of hydrogen and helium. It takes the Earth 24 hours to complete a rotation, but it takes Jupiter only 10 hours. A year, or one orbit around the sun, takes the same as 12 Earth years.

Built in 1973, the Missouri S&T Observatory is located at 1550 N. Bishop Ave. (Highway 63), 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.