Rio Hondo observatory offers a night in the stars and Milky Way

Every clear Friday night atop the Rio Hondo hill, students and the general public have a chance to see the stars through the largest telescope open to the public on a regular basis when visiting the College Observatory located at the peak of the Rio Hondo Campus.

The telescope in the Observatory is sixteen inches, which is four inches larger than the scope at the Griffith Park Observatory.

"The fact that you don't see this at P.C.C or ELAC makes it a rare event that every student should definitely take advantage of, " said Rio Hondo faculty Christopher Soto who serves as one of the guides for the trip up the windy road to the Observatory. "The telescope at Griffith uses a lens and we use a mirror."

The 2 hour trip begins at eight o'clock when students and members of the public meet at the gate between the child development center and Student Parking Lot C located in the upper parking lot area.
The nightly adventure includes a strenuous uphill walk , but is well worth is as you get an up close glimpse of Saturn's rings through the largest scope actually available to the public, which is costless.

The planets observed through the Observatory change every season due to the earths revolution.

Right now Saturn is in perspective and come mid-late summer Jupiter will be observed through the telescope.

For Students taking an Astronomy course With Mr. Highfill, The Rio Hondo College Astronomy Professor, the up-hill trip to the Observatory is offered as extra credit, but is a great experience for the general public who are curious or a family night out that provides to be educational and great for kids at the same time.

"We get neighborhood groups, school groups, scout groups and former students come back years after they have graduated with their kids and family," said Soto.

The observatory itself does not have a great capacity, but the experience you retain from a night in the stars is priceless.