UW-Madison's Space Place will hold its ninth annual telescope clinic tonight after dark at 1605 S. Park St.
Volunteers from the university, as well as from the Madison Astronomical Society and Eagle Optics, will help visitors learn to set up their new or old telescopes and get started observing the night sky. Free telescopes will be available for those who do not have their own.
Jim Lattis, director of the Space Place, hopes the event will provide an opportunity for a glimpse of comet Machholz.
\We're hoping, if the sky is clear, we can help people see it with their own telescopes,"" he said.
Other celestial bodies should be visible with a standard store-bought telescope or even with a pair of high-powered binoculars.
""Saturn is perfect for viewing right now,"" Lattis said. ""It's high overhead and quite bright, and tilted so the rings will be visible.""
There will also be a full moon, affording amateur stargazers beautiful views of Earth's natural satellite.
The free event runs from 6:30-9 p.m. and is open to the public.
University Communications contributed to this report.
