Behlen Observatory public night is Oct. 27
Released on 10/20/2006, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 27, 2006
WHERE: Behlen Observatory (near Mead)
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Behlen Observatory near Mead will be open to the public from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27.
Provided 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 (early in the evening), two kinds of star clusters, double or multiple stars, and the Ring Nebula in Lyra, one of the highlights of the autumn sky.
Viewed in the 30-inch telescope the Ring Nebula resembles a pale ring of smoke. It is one of the best and most easily observed examples of a type of object known as planetary nebulae. This object is the remnant of an old, dying star which expelled part of its outer layers 6,000 to 8,000 years ago to form the nebula. It is 2,300 light-years from Earth.
At various times throughout the evening members of the observatory staff from the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy will give illustrated talks. 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 Edward Schmidt at (402) 472-7304.
The observatory will also be open to the public Nov. 17 and Dec 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. each night.
Directions to the observatory (maps are available on the Web site):
FROM LINCOLN: Take U.S. 77 north from Lincoln. Six miles past Ceresco, turn east on Nebraska 66 (formerly 63) and go 8 miles to the Mead road. Turn left and go 1 mile north to Avenue H. At this corner, there are large brown signs on both sides of the road listing various locations of the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center. 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 on the left.
FROM OMAHA: Take Nebraska 92 west to Mead. At Mead, turn south on Nebraska Spur 78F and follow it for about 5 miles to Avenue H. At this corner, there are large brown signs on both sides of the road listing various locations of the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center. 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 can be seen on the left.
CONTACT: Edward Schmidt, Professor, Physics & Astronomy, (402) 472-7304