BEND–Visitors to the University of Oregon Pine Mountain Observatory can experience an adventure in space this Memorial Day weekend as the 1999 public viewing season begins at 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 28—30.

The opening weekend Sunday show is specially scheduled to help viewers take advantage of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. Public programs will be presented on subsequent Friday and Saturday evenings through September.

Observatory staff will demonstrate one of the latest techniques available to astronomers: images gathered with a supersensitive electronic camera and enhanced with the aid of computers. Visitors also can view planets, galaxies and craters on the moon through the observatory’s large telescopes. Star charts and staff will help visitors find their way among the bright stars and planets visible in the evening sky.

Visitors to Pine Mountain Observatory also can take advantage of UO astronomy professor Greg Bothun’s "electronic universe" program to explore the Internet and view images from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Pine Mountain Observatory is the state’s only professional astronomical observatory and one of the few professional observatories in the world that is open to the public at night. Professional astronomers use the three large telescopes at Pine Mountain Observatory for research and educational purposes.

Due to the observatory’s high altitude, wear warm clothes to protect yourself from the night chill and bring a small flashlight covered with red cellophane to screen the white light. The program is suitable for children ages 10 years and older. Observatory staff request a donation of $2 per adult.

To reach Pine Mountain Observatory from Bend, take Highway 20 east toward Burns and drive 26 miles to Millican. Just beyond Millican, turn south on the dirt road and drive eight miles to the top of Pine Mountain.

For further information, to check on mountain-top weather and crowd conditions, or to make reservations for group tours of eight persons or more, phone Mark Dunaway at Pine Mountain Observatory, (541) 382-8331.

Due to late snowfalls this year, call ahead in May and early June to make sure the road to the mountain top is passable.

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