I was hoping to get one more observatory night in before the winter break, but the weather had other ideas. The weather forecasts are predicting clouds and rain later tonight. Therefore, Collins Observatory will be closed this evening, Monday, December 16, 2024. Note: We will be closed until after the holidays due to the university's winter break. I will make a future announcement as to what date we will reopen.

Note: Collins Observatory will be open to all SSU students, faculty, and staff, and non SSU individuals. Masks are no longer required in the observatory.

Please check back on this site for any changes, or updates about openings, or COVID-19 protocols in the future.

Collins Observatory is normally open on CLEAR, or MOSTLY CLEAR Mondays from 7-10 PM, or later depending upon the time of sunset. We’re open during the school year from September to May, and are closed on school holidays, when the school is on vacation, mandated closings, and during the summer. It is also available for special group visits during the year when feasible.

The observatory houses a Meade 12-inch LX-200 ACF telescope, which does fairly well in the light polluted skies over Salem.

Please call the observatory at 978-542-6452, if you’re coming from a distance, as the weather is a bit unstable this close to the ocean.

Notes:

What’s up tonight?

Venus may be visible very low in the southwestern sky before it sets at opening time this week. It will set a little later each night for the next couple of months.
Mars rises in the northeastern sky a little around 07:00 PM this evening, and will rise earlier each night. It will continue to brighten until the middle of January, where it will migrate to the eastern sky.
Jupiter, though dimming slightly, is still very bright. It is up when we open in the eastern sky (in Taurus), and will migrate to the southeastern sky in January 2025.
Saturn, which is noticeably dimmer now, is up when we open in the southwestern sky (in Aquarius). If you managed to see Saturn last year, you will notice the rings are more edge on this year. It will still be visible in early January 2025, but will be too low to observe before the end of the month.
Uranus, which is up when we open, will migrate from the southeast this month to the south in January 2025.
Neptune will be up in the southwestern sky (in Pisces) at opening time in January 2025, and is still not too far from Saturn. It will also be disappearing into the sunset shortly after Saturn, and will not be visible in February.
M42, in the constellation of Orion, will be well placed for viewing by the time we reopen in January 2025..

Visit us: Map

Located on Rt. 114, ( Lafayette St. ) in Salem, MA.

Parking has improved – we suggest you attempt to use the new parking garage in the lower student parking lot, or the street, which is RT. 114, in front of Meier Hall. Meier Hall is the second building from the faculty parking area “A”, and next to the school theater. Enter through the front door on RT. 114. Go down the hall to the back of the building and take a left. There is an elevator about thirty feet down from there on your right. Go on the elevator and press floor “P” (sixth floor). Turn right upon leaving the elevator. Turn left after the double hall doors and go out the glass doors to the roof. Take the stairs on the left to the observatory.

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