Behlen Observatory public night is Dec. 15

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Behlen Observatory near Mead will be open to the public from 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 15.

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. During the early evening, these include a Globular star cluster, the Ring Nebula in Lyra, several double stars and the planet Uranus. During the later evening an open star cluster, the Orion Nebula and another double star will be visible. At various times throughout the evening members of the observatory staff will give illustrated talks.

Although the observatory public nights emphasize viewing objects through telescopes, the Geminid meteor shower may still be visible Dec. 15. This shower is one of the best all year and this year it occurs during a time when moonlight will not interfere with seeing the meteors. The peak of the shower occurs during the early morning hours of Dec. 14, but it should be possible to see it starting after about 10 p.m. on Dec. 13. Meteors will be seen radiating from the direction of the constellation Gemini, which is rising in the east at that time. It has been estimated that that as many as 120 meteors per hour may be visible.

There is no admission charge for the public night. Further information, including maps to the observatory, can be found on the observatory's Web site at http://astro.unl.edu/observatory or by calling professor Edward Schmidt at (402) 472-7304.

The observatory is located at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center. It is operated by the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Directions to Behlen Observatory:

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 and Astronomy, (402) 472-7304