The Grand Mesa Observatory will be officially opened tomorrow with a tour and showcase for the Board of Trustees. While the event will not be open to the public due to space and property issues, the grand opening will allow the Board of Trustees to see in person the telescope that has been on the agenda for over a year.

“It’s a good chance for them to see results of an important partnership that they engaged in alongside President Foster,” CMU Media Relations Director David Ludlam said.

Although the telescope is not regularly open to the public, many public viewing nights will be held on an ongoing basis. The telescope is also a resource for students in the area; many schools will take field trips to the facility, and the CMU Physics department will utilize it in their program.

Ludlam also said there will most likely be a student viewing night later in the month, with details to come.

The Grand Mesa Observatory is part of the Falcon Telescope Network and run by the US Air Force (USAF). Students are encouraged to attend public viewing nights and take advantage of the Western Slope’s clear, dark skies.