UNL's Behlen Observatory schedules April 4 public night

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Behlen Observatory near Mead will be open to the public 7:30 to 10 p.m. April 4. This will be the last public night for the spring semester.

Provided the sky is clear, visitors will be able to view a variety of objects with the observatory's 30-inch telescope and with smaller telescopes set up outside the observatory. These include the planets Mars and Saturn, the Orion Nebula, star clusters and double stars. Members of the observatory staff will present illustrated talks at 7:45 and 9 p.m.

While the Sun is a single star, many stars are found in double or multiple star systems. The stars in these systems orbit about each other just as the planets orbit the sun. There are several double stars in the evening sky now which are close enough to Earth that the individual stars are discernable in the telescope.

Although the stars in a double system formed together, they can look quite different, said UNL astronomer Edward Schmidt. For example, he said, Iota Cancri in the constellation of Cancer consists of two stars which are dramatically different in color and brightness while Mizar in the constellation Ursa Major consists of two nearly identical stars. These two objects, as well as several other binary star systems, may be observed during the public night.

There is no admission charge for the public night. Further information can be found on the observatory Web site ( http://astro.unl.edu/observatory) or by contacting Schmidt at (402) 472-7304 or eschmidt1@unl.edu. Directions to the observatory follow. Directions and maps can also be found at 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 eight miles to the Mead road. Turn left and go one mile north to Avenue H. At this corner, there are large brown signs on both sides of the road listing various locations of the field lab. Turn right on Avenue H and continue east two 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 five miles to Avenue H. At this corner, there are large brown signs on both sides of the road listing various locations of the field lab. Turn left on Avenue H and continue east two 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.