Celebrate the Summer Solstice at the UW Art Museum!

Astronomer Ray Martin shows a museum visitor how to safely view the sun through his solar telescope at last year's summer solstice celebration (UW art Museum)

The University of Wyoming Art Museum will host its annual summer solstice celebration Wednesday, June 20, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

This free event celebrates the longest day of the year and the official beginning of summer. Every year at exactly noon on the summer solstice, the sun shines through a solar tube in the ceiling of the Rotunda Gallery and illuminates the silver dollar that is embedded in the center of the gallery's floor.

Visitors also will have the opportunity to safely view the sun's surface through astronomer Ray Martin's filtered solar telescope, which will be set up on the terrace.

Members of the Wyoming Gamelan Chandra Wyoga, a Balinese percussion group, will provide music for the event.

Located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive in Laramie, the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.