'Holiday skies' at Student Observatory Dec. 16

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Observatory will be open 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, weather permitting, for viewing of four holiday attractions: Venus, Mars, the moon, and Saturn.

Venus is the really bright object low in the southwest right after sunset and astronomers often receive calls before Christmas asking whether Venus is the "Star of Bethlehem." Regardless of the origin of the Star of Bethlehem, Venus is very close to the earth this Christmas season. In January, Venus will pass rapidly between Earth and the sun, so this will be the last chance to get a close-up view for more than a year. In the telescope Venus will look like a thinning crescent. It now appears to be much bigger than earlier in the fall.

Mars remains well placed in the evening sky. It has shrunk to 75 percent of the apparent size it had during its close approach at the end of October, but it still appears to be a good size in the telescope, and it will not get significantly closer than it is this month until 2016. In the telescope Mars still appears bigger than a full moon seen with the unaided eye. One can readily see surface features, and atmospheric activity such as clouds and dust storms.

It is now the equivalent of our first week in September in the southern hemisphere of Mars turned toward Earth, so summer is drawing to a close. The southern polar ice cap has shrunk so much it will probably not be visible at the viewing.

This is a season on Mars where a lot can happen. During the last few weeks, there has been an increase in the number of clouds on Mars. As on the earth, the seasons on Mars are opposite in opposite hemispheres. One interesting change to watch for is the emergence of the north polar ice cap. The north polar ice cap is covered with blue-white haze during the northern winter. The northern winter is now drawing to an end and the blue haze is rapidly thinning, and parts of the ice are visible below the haze. This is also the season when a giant, planet-wide dust storm can erupt.

The remaining attractions of the evening will be the bright gibbous moon, and the ringed planet Saturn. The craters of the moon and the rings of Saturn can be readily seen in the telescope.

There is no charge for admission to the observatory and children of all ages are welcome. There will be astronomers on hand to answer questions. The observatory is unheated, so visitors should dress appropriately. The observatory will not be open if it is mostly cloudy. If in doubt about the weather, call the observatory at (402) 472-4728. The Student Observatory is on the roof of the Stadium Drive Parking Garage, 10th and T streets.

The next public viewing is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 20.

For more information about the Student Observatory, contact Gaskell, the observatory coordinator, at (402) 472-4788 or mgaskell1@unl.edu, or visit the observatory's Web site.

CONTACT:Martin Gaskell, Research Assoc. Professor, Physics and Astronomy, (402) 472-4788