Mueller Planetarium to unveil Hubble Telescope images

Visitors will be able to witness a spectacular event at 1 p.m. April 25 at the University of Nebraska State Museum's Mueller Planetarium when two new mural-sized images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope will be unveiled to the public.

The stunning photographs of spiral galaxy M51 and an eerie-looking tower of gas in the Eagle Nebula commemorate Hubble's 15 years of viewing the heavens. Lincoln Mayor Coleen Seng will unveil the images. Also presenting remarks will be: Harvey Perlman, UNL chancellor, Prem Paul, vice chancellor for research, Priscilla Grew, museum director, and Jack Dunn, planetarium coordinator. The event is open to the public. No museum admission will be charged during the unveiling and reception following.

The 4-foot by 6-foot image of M51 reveals striking details of how clusters of stars are born in the galaxy's long, curving spiral arms. The 3-foot by 6-foot photograph of the Eagle Nebula shows a gaseous formation sculpted by ultraviolet light from a group of massive, hot, young stars. These views are among the largest and sharpest images ever taken by the Hubble telescope and show the awesome beauty of space.

The Earth-orbiting observatory was deployed in space on April 25, 1990. Hubble orbits above Earth's murky atmosphere, which distorts light from celestial objects. During its 15 years of viewing the universe, the Hubble telescope has taken more than 700,000 snapshots of celestial objects such as galaxies, dying stars and giant gas clouds, the birthplace of stars.

Additional information about the Hubble Space Telescope is available at http://hubblesite.org. The new Hubble images will remain on display in the Mueller Planetarium lobby. The planetarium is located at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall on the UNL campus, just south of 14th and Vine streets. Admission: $8 family, $4 adult, $2 child, free with a UNL ID. Free visitor parking in front of Morrill Hall. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays and holidays 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CONTACT: Willo Stuart, Special Projects Coordinator, NU State Museum, (402) 472-3779