Department of Chemistry and Physics at Southeast Missouri State University

04/16/2026

If you are free Friday night, please come support the ACS Student Chapter by playing trivia!

04/07/2026

Good news, stargazers! Clear skies are expected for our astronomical observation this evening at the Vollink Family Observatory at Southeast Missouri State University (near the Show Me Center off N. Sprigg St).

🕗 Tonight at 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

After several weather-related cancellations, our astronomers are excited and have prepared a list of targets for tonight. We hope to see you there!

03/17/2026

🌙 Tonight’s observing session is canceled due to persistent cloud cover. The skies are not expected to clear enough for observing this evening.

The AstroSEMO Program Meeting will still take place tonight at 6:30 pm in Rhodes Hall 121.

Dr. Alberto Ponce de Leon will give a talk titled Comets and 3I-Atlas, covering the general properties of comets and what makes them so interesting to astrophysicists, with a closer look at 3I-Atlas, the latest interstellar comet currently passing through our solar system.

This event is open to the public, and everyone is welcome. Bring a friend and join us for the presentation.

Our next observing session will be Tuesday, April 7 from 8:00 to 10:00 pm at the Vollink Family Observatory.

Send a message to learn more

03/03/2026

🌙 Tonight’s Full Moon Observation Canceled ☁️
Tonight’s observing session is canceled due to persistent cloud cover. We were hopeful for clearing, but the clouds are not expected to break enough for us to see the full moon this evening. It sometimes feels like the clouds know exactly when we schedule an observing session.

Our next event will be the AstroSEMO Program Meeting on March 17 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in Rhodes Hall 121. We will then move to the Vollink Family Observatory from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm for a public observing session, weather permitting.

We hope to see you there under clearer skies. 🌌

Send a message to learn more

02/24/2026

🔬 Chemistry & Physics Seminar Series – This Friday!
Join us this Friday, February 27 in Rhodes Hall 121 for the next installment of the Spring 2026 Seminar Series!
We're excited to welcome back one of our own — Dunya Sembukuttiarachchige, a SEMO Chemistry alumna and current chemistry doctoral student at the University of Iowa, who will present:
"Modulation of M-M distance and spin in dinuclear metal complexes containing Fe and Mn supported by triaryl tetradentate ligands with different flanking donors"
☕ Coffee & cookies at 3:00 p.m.
🎤 Talk begins at 3:30 p.m.
📍 Rhodes Hall, Room 121
This event is open to the public — bring your friends, family, significant other, and neighbors! No chemistry background required to come show your support.
For more details:

02/17/2026

🌙 Tonight’s observation is canceled due to persistent cloud cover.
We were hopeful for clearing, but conditions are not expected to improve this evening.

AstroSEMO and the Astronomy Club will still hold their Program Meeting tonight at 6:00 pm in Rhodes Hall 121. Dr. Peggy Hill and SEMO Astronomy Club member Lauren Peca will present on the Artemis Program, focusing on the Artemis II mission scheduled to launch in early March. All are welcome to attend.

Our next Public Observing Session will be on March 3. Since it will be a full moon, we will set up outside of Rhodes and Dempster from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm to watch the moon rise. We look forward to seeing everyone then.

Send a message to learn more

02/03/2026

🌕 Tonight’s Observation Canceled ☁️
We have been monitoring the weather throughout the day, but the skies are not expected to clear enough for observing, so tonight’s observation is canceled.
Our next Public Observing Session is scheduled for after the AstroSEMO/Astronomy Club February Program meeting on Tuesday, February 17. That evening coincides with a new moon, making it an ideal night for observing deep-sky objects.

Send a message to learn more

01/20/2026

Clear skies and an open dome tonight at Vollink Family Observatory! We’ll be observing from 6:00–8:00 pm. It’s going to be cold, but we’ll have hot chocolate to keep you warm and a waxing crescent Moon to help us hunt for some deep-sky treasures. Bundle up and come look up!

12/04/2025

🌕 Tonight’s Observation Canceled ☁️
We’ve been monitoring the weather throughout the day, but the skies are not expected to clear enough for observing. Because of the persistent cloud cover, tonight’s observation is canceled.

This was our final observation of the year. Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the season. On the bright side, it was probably cold enough tonight to freeze our telescopes anyway.

✨ Stay tuned for our Spring Semester observation schedule!

Send a message to learn more

11/19/2025

🌕 Tonight’s Observation Canceled ☁️
We waited as late as we could in case the clouds cleared—unfortunately, they never did. Because of the persistent overcast conditions, tonight’s observation is canceled.

Our final observation of the semester will be on Thursday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Vollink Family Observatory.
We’re hoping for clear skies and a great final session!

Send a message to learn more