Observatory Open Houses
The Friedman Observatory, gifted to Penn State Wilkes-Barre by Sidney and Pauline Friedman, is open to the public each Friday evening at 8:00 p.m., weather permitting. Come to one of our open houses to view the skies using our 16-inch (0.40 meter) Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain LX200 telescope. No reservation is needed.
If you have any questions, email Jon Belanger, observatory assistant, for more information. Follow us on Bluesky or Facebook to see upcoming Open House events and cancellations.
Weather Conditions
The observatory is open only during clear weather conditions.
The observatory will be closed for:
- poor visibility conditions (no or very few stars visible)
- National Weather Service radar indicates scattered thunderstorms in the
Northeastern Pennsylvania region - poor winter road conditions (e.g., snow, ice, fog)
- significant snow or ice accumulation on or around the
observatory dome - very cold weather (<20 degrees F)
For a prediction of upcoming viewing conditions, see the AccuWeather Stargazing Forecast.
