For several months, we tried to visit the rooftop astronomical observatory at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., but repeated cloudy weather conditions suggested it just wasn’t in our stars.
Finally, late last spring, we finally got a good weather night to go, and the experience was memorable — at least for a few minutes before the clouds came in.
When the conditions are good, however, nighttime sky viewing from the Wheaton College Department of Physics and Astronomy rooftop is one of the most enjoyable, underrated things to do in the Boston suburbs. Open to the public and students on campus, activities include an astronomical slideshow and star gazing through a number of large aperature telescopes.
Your host, Dr. Tony Houser, is a knowledgeable and extremely nice fellow who makes the evening educational and entertaining. He knows his stuff and generally enjoys meeting the public.
Houser and the Wheaton staff welcome prescheduled groups up to 25 and families and smaller groups at any time. You can contact Houser at houser_anthony@wheatoncollege.edu or call him at (508)286-3979 to set up a time to visit the observatory.
Wheaton College, is located at 26 East Main St., Norton, Mass. Stargazers will first meet at the old science center auditorium (on Howard St., just off Taunton Rd.)
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