RIT Observatory hosts open house March 31

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Denys Sakva (2005, public policy), December 2004. RIT Observatory

The Orion Nebula

UPDATE 9:41 a.m. March 30: The open house has been canceled due to bad weather.

An open house at the Rochester Institute of Technology Observatory this month will feature the crescent moon, the Pleiades star cluster, the Orion Nebula and Jupiter.

The family friendly event—free and open to the public—will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. on March 31 at the RIT Observatory, located at 645 John St., Henrietta.

“The Pleiades is one of the closest clusters of stars that we can see, and many cultures mention it in their legends,” said Stacey Davis, senior lecturer of physics and astronomy at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and interim director of the RIT Observatory. “The bright stars in the cluster are visible to the naked eye, but it’s even more breathtaking through binoculars or a telescope.”

If clear skies prevail, star gazers will have a chance to view the Orion Nebula, “a stellar nursery where stars are created,” Davis said, and Jupiter’s moons, band and—possibly—the red spot.