Lincoln (Neb.) - Nov. 27, 2001 - Jupiter and Saturn, the biggest gas giant planets in the solar system, are back for viewing in the evening skies and will be the featured objects at a Dec. 7 public night at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Observatory.
The observatory will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. The viewing is free and children are welcome. December evenings are very cold and the observatory is unheated so it is important to dress warmly. The observatory is located on the roof of the Stadium Parking Garage, 10th and T streets. The public viewing will be canceled if it is totally overcast.
The solar system has four gas giant planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. All four are visible in a telescope in the early December evening sky. Jupiter is the very bright planet in the east from 7:30 onward and Saturn is higher up in Taurus.
The jewel of the solar system, Saturn, is now at its best for evening viewing. The planet is high in the sky and the rings are wide open. As well as the splendid ring system, several of Saturn's moons can be seen, too. "If you've never seen the glory of Saturn's ring system in a telescope, you've really missed out on something in life," said UNL astronomer Martin Gaskell.
Jupiter is the biggest planet. It not only is big - 1,000 earths would fit inside it - it also looks big in a telescope. The observatory's 16-inch telescope reveals the dark cloud bands encircling Jupiter and the four bright moons orbiting it.
The observatory will also be open the afternoon of Dec 14 for viewing
of a partial eclipse of the sun. For more information, contact Gaskell by
phone, (402) 472-4788, or e-mail (mgaskell1@unl.edu), or visit the
observatory's Web site (http://www.blackstarpress.com/arin/unl/stdobsv/).
For questions regarding these releases, contact:
tsimons1@unl.edu
(402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825