Double stars on view Oct. 7 at Behlen Observatory

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Behlen Observatory near Mead will be open for public viewing from 8 to 11 p.m. Oct. 7.

If the sky is clear, visitors will be able to view a variety of objects with the 30-inch telescope and with smaller telescopes set up outside of the observatory. These include the moon (until about 8:45), the planet Mars (after about 9), the Ring Nebula, an open star cluster, a globular star cluster and several double or multiple stars.

Although the sun is a single star, most stars are part of double or multiple star systems. The stars in these systems orbit each other in the same manner as the planets orbit the sun. In most cases they are too distant for us to see the individual stars separately.

However, a number of double stars, which can be resolved by a telescope, are visible in the evening sky. Even though the stars in a double system formed together, they can look quite different. For example, Albereo in the constellation of Cygnus, consists of two stars which are dramatically different in color and brightness.

Sometimes there are more than two stars in a star system, such as in Epsilon Lyrae, where the telescope reveals four stars in orbit about each other. These two objects, as well as several other binary star systems, may be observed during the public night.

Kevin Lee, research assistant professor of physics and astronomy, will present a talk about motions of objects in the night sky. The talk will be illustrated by computer animations to explain the various motions of celestial objects and how they appear from the Earth.

There is no admission charge for the public night. Further information can be found on the observatory Web site at http://astro.unl.edu/observatory or by calling Ed Schmidt, professor of physics and astronomy, (402) 472-7304.

Directions to the observatory:

From LINCOLN: Take U.S. 77 north. Six miles north of Ceresco, turn east on Nebraska 63 and go 8 miles to 10th Street (which is the road to Mead). At that corner there is a large brown sign on the left which lists a number of locations on the field lab, including Behlen Observatory. Turn left and go 1 mile north to Avenue H. Turn right on Avenue H and continue east 2 miles to Eighth Street. Turn left on Eighth Street and follow it north 0.6 miles to the observatory, which will be seen off to the left.

From OMAHA: Take Nebraska 92 west to Mead, turn south on Nebraska Spur 78F and follow it about 5 miles to Avenue H. Turn left on Avenue H and continue east 2 miles to Eighth Street. Turn left on Eighth street and follow it north 0.6 miles to the observatory, which will be seen off to the left.

CONTACT: Ed Schmidt, Professor, Physics & Astronomy, (402) 472-7304