Safety

When observing at Wallace...

Please review the Emergency Instructions provided to you in your observing manual or found in the observatory main room.
For more extensive writeup of safety instructions and contacts, please review the "Hill Safety Manual" and "Hill Site Activity Form" found on the MIT Haystack Observatory website: Hill Safety

Special Note: During this difficult time, please refer to MIT campus guidance on all-things Covid19 or emergency related: MIT Now

Please review the following before working or visiting Wallace Observatory:

• Watch for animals crossing the driveway and the access road.
• Always check for wasps before entering any building.
• During "bug season" always wear insect repellent at night.
• When observing, do not close the main gate!
• Use the bunk room if you are too tired to safely drive home.
• Peak tick season at Wallace Observatory is January through December. Use Permethrin spray on your shoes and wear long sleaved clothing. Do not walk in the grassy/wooded areas surrounding the maintained lawn area at Wallace, without first fully familiarizing yourself with the precautions necessary to avoid and deal with tick bites. Tick Identification Card - Mass.gov
• Look out for poison ivy when walking off the paths. ("Leaves of three - let it be!")

  

• Do not feed or taunt the black bear, porcupine, moose, fisher cat, bobcat, coyote, opossum, snake, rabbit, turkey or deer. Also, you are NOT allowed to hunt on MIT property.