Observatory To Be Open to Public on Friday Evening

The public will get a chance to use the new astronomical observatory at Ocean City High School on Friday, Jan. 18.

The observatory will be open from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. and provide telescopic views of the moon, Jupiter and celestial bodies.

The observatory had been scheduled to open to the public during Ocean City's First Night celebration on New Year's Eve, but with overcast skies, the event was cancelled. Friday's forecast calls for mostly clear skies with a low of 23 degrees.

Any cancellation of the Friday observations will be posted on the district website by 5 p.m.

The observatory is located behind Ocean City High School near Carey Stadium. People who attend are asked to enter the observatory from the beach block of Fifth Street.

"Many residents have been taking fabulous photos of the moon with their smartphones — that is all they need this time," Astronomy teacher Dr. John Herrmann had said before the scheduled New Year's Eve event.

The new observatory was dedicated in September on city property adjacent to Ocean City High School. The private, nonprofit Ocean City Education Foundation and the Ocean City Free Public Library donated money to create the unique educational resource at the high school.

The next observation session for the public will be held the same time (5:45 to 7 p.m.) Friday, Jan. 25.