We start with entering the front door of the observatory. We step up the stairs to the dome, and pass through the curtain to view the 110+ year old telescope. We swing around, pass back down the stairs and take a right into the transit telescope room. Along with the transit telescope, we find information on the history of astronomy at the UW, how to operate the transit telescope, and an ancient chronograph and clock. We turn and go out to the lobby area and then into the "pillar" room (the telescope mount is set directly into the ground). In the pillar room we pass by many images of celestial objects--an eclipse of the Sun, galaxies, nebula, stars, and planets. We circle around the pillar and leave the observatory, heading for the classroom. This classroom is in use during the day, but is dedicated to astronomy presentations during the public viewing nights. We chance upon some undergraduates in astronomy in the middle of their presentation, plus a small but captivated audience.
We hope you enjoyed this brief tour, and that you will come join us for the real thing. ("Refresh" or "Reload" to view again.)
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