Helen and Stanley Warkoczewski standing next to his hand-built Newtonian reflector newly-installed on the roof of Royall Hall, September 1974.

Did you notice the lunar eclipse earlier this month?  The night skies holds many more surprises and mysteries–and UMKC is home to the Warkoczewski Observatory (the “Warko” for short) where anyone who stays up late on certain Friday nights can marvel at the night sky.

The Warko is named for Stanley and Helen Warkoczewski, amateur astronomers who lived near campus.  Mr. Warkoczewski built his own 16 3/8 inch Newtonian reflector, which he donated to UMKC in 1974 where it remains the observatory’s centerpiece as one of the finest optical astronomy instruments in the Midwest.  The Observatory is located on the roof of Royall Hall and is open to the public for free on clear Friday nights from May 1st through October 31st.

To celebrate the Warko’s 40th anniversary, join the UMKC Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Astronomical Society of Kansas City on October 27th for a lecture by Dr. David Levy.  Dr. Levy has discovered over 20 comets and is an Emmy winner for his documentary “Three Minutes to Impact.”

The Warko will be open prior to the lecture for solar viewing and afterwards for skygazing.  This is one of the last opportunities this year to visit the Warko–and don’t forget your coat!

Full schedule of events on October 27th:

• Warko Open House and Solar Viewing (Royall Hall roof) — 3:30 to 4:30p.m.
• Astrophotography & Meteorite Display (Miller Nichols Learning Center lobby) — 6 to 6:50p.m.
• Dr. David H. Levy Presentation (MNLC 351) — 7 to 8:15p.m.
• Warko Night Observing — Following talk to 11p.m.