Foothill College and the Peninsula Astronomical Society announce that the observatory on the Los Altos Hills campus will reopen for the public this weekend following a one-year closure to accommodate construction of the Krause Center for Innovation.

To celebrate, PAS will host a family-friendly star party Saturday, Sept. 28, from sundown to 11 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. The event is an excellent opportunity for community members of all ages to experience the wonder of the evening sky. We strongly recommend that visitors dress for cool weather.

Bring your family to see the beauty of the universe: stars, planets and galaxies—from a site close to home. An additional treat will be the observation of a distant exploding star in the constellation Sagittarius that just appeared this week.

PAS members will operate the large, 16-inch telescope in the observatory, and other club members will share their own smaller telescopes to ensure a minimum of waiting time for a view. Peninsula Astronomical Society members will be available to answer questions, and provide advice for the would-be amateur astronomer or telescope buyer.

After Saturday’s opening, the observatory will be open to the public every clear Friday night from 9 to 11 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for safe viewing of the sun.

Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills. From Interstate 280, exit El Monte Road and travel west 100 yards. Parking Lot 4 provides easy access to the observatory. Campus visitors must purchase a required parking permit for $2 (in quarters).

For more information, call the observatory’s recorded message at (650) 949-7334 or access the PAS Web site.