The sky seems to be cooperating today. Therefore, Collins Observatory will be open this evening, Monday, January 27, 2025. However, the forecasts are predicting wind gusts in excess of 35 MPH. If the winds become too high, we will have to shut the dome early for safety.

Note: Collins Observatory is open to all SSU students, faculty, 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 is easily visible in the west/southwestern sky (in Aquarius) for over an hour after we open this week.
Mars is in the eastern sky (in Gemini) when we open. It passed its peak brightest two weeks ago, and is now dimming and shrinking as it moves away from us, but is still a nice object in a telescope.
Jupiter, though dimming, is still very bright. It is up when we open in the southeastern sky (in Taurus).
Saturn is very low in the west/southwestern sky (in Aquarius). It is still not far from Venus on Monday, January 27, 2025. Note: This will probably be the last chance for us to observe it during open hours this year.
Uranus, is up in the south (in Taurus) when we open this week.
Neptune will be about 5 degrees away Venus tonight in the west/southwestern sky (in Pisces) at our normal opening time this week. It will move into the low western sky in February, before it disappears into the sunset shortly after Saturn disappears.
M42, in the constellation of Orion, is still well placed in the southeastern sky for viewing in January.

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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