This summer, astronomy enthusiasts have had the opportunity to gaze at the stars, planets and other objects in the galaxy through advanced telescopes at the Rooftop Observatory of the David Rittenhouse Laboratory.
The stargazing sessions -- which take place every Monday and Thursday at 9:00 p.m. and are free and open to the public -- are run by Simon Dicker, a postdoctoral physics research.
Normally, Dicker says that around fourteen people -- generally school children -- attend the viewings. And typically he says he spends his time running around making sure that the expensive equipment stays safe.
However, only a couple people showed up last Monday evening.
Although the sky was hazy with humidity, Dicker was able to point out a few well-known landmarks in the sky, such as the Big Dipper and the planet Venus, with the aid of powerful telescopes.
Among the array of viewing instruments was the Reflector Telescope -- a powerful telescope with a curved mirror and computer system that enables it to take photographs, through an attached camera, that can later be viewed using a projector in a lab.
Large size telescopes such as the Reflector Telescope can be over five feet long, but also require a strong push in order to be rotated and the observers need to stand on a ladder in order to gaze through the lenses.
Still, while larger size telescopes may be more difficult to maneuver, Dicker believes they increase the visibility in the sky.
"The bigger the telescope, the more detail you can see," Dicker said.
In spite of the fact that the warm temperatures of summer nights may encourage many to attempt to locate the stars and planets, Dicker says that a cold, clear winter evening provides the best view.
In addition, he noted that cities are not optimal places for observing the sky due to the obstructive glare cause by the brightly lit streets and buildings.
"The streetlights here are terrible," Dicker said.
However, recent College graduate Marianne Biron appreciates the fact that she still is able to gaze at the stars not only during the school year, but also in the summer.
"It's great that the observatory is kept open for the public in the summer, and that it is run by someone who knows his subject matter well and is passionate enough to make you want to go back and learn more about astronomy," Biron said. "It's also really cool that they have such great technology available."
Besides aiding observers with using the telescopes, Dicker showed pictures of the moon captured by the Reflector Telescope and explained a chart known as the "M Catalog," which contains illustrations and descriptions of various constellations and celestial masses.
Dicker, who hails from England, arrived in the United States four years ago. He says that he has always had a passion for the sciences.
"I hated writing essays in school," Dicker reflected.
Dicker's main interest has always been physics, especially particle physics.
"I loved slamming things together and watching them explode," Dicker joked.
He previously worked on building telescopes on the Canary Islands and is now currently involved with the Greenbank Telescope Project.
Recently, Dicker was involved with the construction of the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope, which is located at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's site.
Dicker is also in the process of constructing a receiver that can detect which areas of a planet produce the most heat -- knowledge which can give insight into which areas of a planet reflect the most light.
