Beginning April 2002 and continuing for the next two years major construction will be taking place in fields immediately adjacent to the stadium area where the university Observatory is located. During this time, access to the observatory will be somewhat more exciting than in previous years. Indeed, the specific details of how to get to the observatory may occasionally change during this time period in response to construction activity.
During this time access to the observatory will be available by means of gates along the fence that separates the stadium area from the baseball field and the fields where Lacrosse and soccer are played. These fields and the stadium area are along the side of the campus that runs along Petaluma Hill Road. These fields are immediately to the north of the stadium area. Visitors must walk across these fields from the central campus areas to arrive at the gates to the stadium and the observatory.
The construction area is shown in black on the following map. The entire construction area is fenced off and may only be entered by construction workers.
The most convenient parking lot for those visiting the Observatory is now lot H adjacent to the tennis courts. The lots E and F near the main entrance to the campus and near the Person Theater and Ives Hall are no longer convenient for Observatory parking. Construction activity has removed sidewalks in this area so that Observatory visitors would need to walk in the road to reach the fields and the access gates.
It is not our intention to cancel Public Viewing Nights or any classroom use of the Observatory during construction. However, visiting the Observatory should be somewhat more exciting than in recent years. Bring a flashlight, be prepared to walk across a grass playing field, and allow some extra time. Visiting the SSU Observatory is now even more of an adventure!
For historical reference, here is an original Observatory Locator Map.
