Telescopes aimed at the Andromeda Galaxy on Friday, Oct. 7 will give observers a chance to see Jupiter, Saturn, and several deep-sky Messier Objects. Fort Hays State University’s Astronomy Club will provide the use of high-powered telescopes at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center stargazing event from 8:30-10 p.m.  

The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth. The telescopes will be pointed toward M31, and nearby M32, M110, M2, M13, and M15. 

The event is open to the general public and will led by Dr. Jack Maseberg, associate professor of physics, and Dr. Paul Adams, dean of the College of Education, at FHSU. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center is affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.

There will be refreshments and a planetary solar system craft. A time for storytelling will round out the evening.  

“This is a great opportunity to look for deep space and celestial objects with experts,” said KWEC Education Specialist Mandy Kern. 

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156, is located northeast of Great Bend.