WHEN: Friday, Oct. 3, 7-10 p.m.
WHERE: Behlen Observatory, near Mead
Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 2, 2003 -- The next public night at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Behlen Observatory near Mead will be Oct. 3 from 7 to 10 p.m. In addition to viewing through the 30-inch telescopes, three half-hour slide show talks will be given: on the expanding universe, the Kuiper Belt, and the night's sky.
The topics and schedule for the slide show talks is:
-- The New Wrinkles in Cosmology, 7:15-7:45, by Norman Simon, UNL. Since the 1930's, astronomers have known that the universe is expanding. However, they always assumed that gravitational interactions between galaxies would be slowing this expansion down. Observations of supernovae in the last few years suggest that the rate of expansion may be increasing -- that the universe is accelerating. This talk will survey these new observations and what they imply about the age and future of the universe.
-- Characteristics of the Kuiper Belt, 8-8:30, by Kevin Lee, UNL. This presentation will survey what we know about the Kuiper Belt (a vast body of objects orbiting the sun beyond Neptune) and how we have gained that knowledge. The present distribution of Kuiper Belt objects will be illustrated by computer simulations which show how these objects interact with Neptune. All attendees will be required to vote on the question "Is Pluto a planet?"
-- What's up in Tonight's Sky, 8:45-9:15, by Dale Johnston and Shawn Langan, UNL. Mars, the Andromeda Galaxy, and Globular Clusters -- this presentation will survey everything of interest in the fall sky. Images of these objects will be shown and tips for viewing their features through small telescopes will be given.
Behlen Observatory is located at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center a few miles southeast of Mead, and about 35 miles from either Omaha or Lincoln.
Directions to Behlen Observatory:
From Lincoln: Take U.S. 77 north to about one-half mile past Swedeburg and turn east on Nebraska 63. Follow Highway 63 for about seven miles to 10th Street (same as Nebraska Spur 78F) where there is a sign to Mead. Turn left and go one mile north to Avenue H. Turn right on Avenue H and continue east about two miles to Eighth Street. Turn left Eighth Street and follow it north about 0.7 miles to the observatory, which will be seen to the left.
From Omaha: Take Nebraska 92 west to Mead. At Mead turn south on Nebraska Spur 78F and follow it about five miles to Avenue H. Turn left on Avenue H and continue east about two miles until to Eighth Street. Turn left on Eighth street and follow it north about 0.7 miles to the observatory, which will be seen to the left.
CONTACT: Kevin Lee, Research Asst. Professor, Physics & Astronomy (402) 472-3686
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Posted by Tom Simons, Office of University Communications
Phone: (402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825