STEM & WiSE Field Trip to Mt. Laguna Observatory

View of MLO from Wooded Hills Trail

SDSU GEN S 100C University Seminar Learning Communities:
Women In Science and Engineering (WiSE)
 and
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Information on WiSE Field Trip to Mt. Laguna Observatory


Dates: Fri Nov 20 -or- Sat Nov 21
Depart: 3:00 pm ** VIEJAS ARENA BUS BAY AREA **
Return to SDSU: 9 pm back at SDSU (approximate)
Contact Person: Prof. Bill Welsh, Astronomy Dept.
E-mail: wwelsh @ mail.sdsu.edu; 619 594-2288
Liability Waivers: All students must sign these!


Sun setting through the cloud inversion layer Introduction:
Mt. Laguna Observatory (MLO) is an astronomical research facility operated by San Diego State University. MLO is located in the Cleveland National Forest approximately 50 miles east of SDSU at an altitude of 6100 feet. The weather is excellent with a very high percentage of clear nights (perfect weather 60% of the time, good weather 75% of the time) and a temperature inversion in the foothills creates a cloud layer that blocks light pollution from urban San Diego. These make Mount Laguna one of the best overall observatory sites in the continental United States. MLO is home to four well-equipped telescopes, ranging in size from 21-inches to 40-inches in diameter. There is a Visitor's Center with lecture room, a small museum, a kitchen galley, dorms for students, an apartment for astronomers, and restrooms.


view of mountains to the south from 21-inch telescope The STEM/WiSE Field Trip:
We'll get a tour of the facilities when we arrive, starting with the Visitor's Center then the 24-inch telescope. Well watch the sunset from the location of the 24-inch telescope. Then we'll get a brief tour of the 40-inch telescope before going back the the Visitor Center for dinner. Dr. Welsh will give a PowerPoint presentation as we dine. Then we'll go over to the Reginald Buller 21-inch Visitor's telescope. This classic telescope has superb optics for viewing celestial objects by eye. % We'll look at Saturn and its rings, We'll look at Jupiter and its moons, a globular star cluster, the ring nebula, and maybe the Andromeda galaxy (actually visible to the naked eye - it is approximately 2.5 million light years away and so we're looking back in time 2.5 million years!). With luck, we should see some Leonid meteors. At 8 pm we'll pack up and leave, getting back to SDSU around 9 pm.

Observatory Conditions:
The weather will be cold.
The weather will be cold.
The weather will be very cold.
The weather will be VERY cold.
The weather will be VERY VERY cold.
The weather will be VERY VERY VERY cold.
The temperature drops very suddenly after sunset. Temperatures will probably be in the upper 60s at 4pm and but will drop into the 30s by 8 pm. Do not wear sandals, do not wear shorts, do not wear anything you would not be comfortable in if there were snow on the ground! The area will be very dark (since this is a research observatory) and we have chosen a night when the Moon won't interfere with seeing the Milky Way. There will be no lights. Being in a semi-remote mountanous area, cell phones may not work.


Prof. Welsh filling the LN2 at the 40-inch telescope What to bring:
Although it may be nice and warm in San Diego as we get on the bus, the temperatures will be MUCH MUCH colder at Mt. Laguna. Please bring warm clothes to put on after you arrive: heavy coat, gloves, hat, scarf, etc. We'll be doing some walking (1/2 mile), so please wear comfortable, sturdy shoes. Don't even think of wearing sandals - your toes will freeze!
Please bring a small flashlight if you have one. Not everyone needs a flashlight, but its best if most of us have one.
Bring a camera if you want (but please don't use the flash at night as you'll ruin everyone's night vision!). I'll have a camera and you can borrow it if you want.
Bring binoculars if you have some.
Hot water and hot chocolate will be available. Bring your favorite tea bags if you prefer tea instead of hot chocolate mix.


Your guides will be Prof. Welsh, assisted by astronomy graduate students who are experts on using the Visitor's telescope and will answer any questions you may have. Their technical expertize will help make this field trip a success.


View of 16-inch telescope with lupines in the foreground
  • ** UPDATED ** list of who is going on what date
  • More Information About the Fieldtrip to MLO
  • Virtual Tour of MLO
  • Current Temperatures at Mt. Laguna
  • Photos from the 2008 WiSE MLO trip!


    © All photos by Bill Welsh (SDSU).