An Out UW Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomes the public for annual open house.
Department of Physics and Astronomy Professor Chip Kobulnicky prepares the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3-meter telescope for viewers before the annual WIRO open house.
It was a chilly, clear October night at the top of Jelm Mountain, where the Wyoming Infrared Observatory rests — perfect conditions for the nearly 150 curious minds and enthusiastic stargazers to observe the night sky during the observatory’s annual open house. Michael Brotherton and Chip Kobulnicky, both professors of physics and astronomy at the University of Wyoming, along with 15 volunteers led the public viewing. Brotherton and Kobulnicky operated the Wyoming Infrared Observatory’s 2.3-meter telescope to give community members a glimpse of the night sky, from binary stars to star clusters and planetary nebulas. “The WIRO Open House is often the largest public outreach event for the Department of Physics and Astronomy with the local Wyoming community,” says Brotherton. “This event serves as an opportunity to share with the public an explanation for what we’re doing in the strange building on the top of Jelm Mountain that many see and have questions about.” The event attracted people young and old from across Wyoming for the chance to catch a glimpse of the immense, fascinating universe through a powerful telescope. “The WIRO telescope is a big, impressive machine and it can be empowering to use it and a very visceral experience,” says Brotheron. “This event is an experience where people can feel connected directly to the universe beyond