Keep Looking Up

By Gary Fugman

 

Billions of years in the future our Sun will emit a series of “cosmic burps”, life on Earth will end, and a “retired” Sun will be noticeably on its way to death.  How do we know this?  We study variable stars in our galaxy and around the universe!

 

This Friday, November 8 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, November 9 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center people of all ages are invited to take an amazing trip among variable stars with the Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC).  Pastor Gary Fugman will discuss and project how once stable, life giving stars start to change in brightness, making life impossible in their solar systems.  These changes in star brightness and temperature can range from quick, tiny changes to year, long sering changes.  And you and other amateur astronomers in our area can and do make variable star observations that professional astronomers do use.  You will be able to practice those variable star observations this Friday and Saturday!

 

At 8pm, weather permitting, with free star charts in hand you are invited to the Cory and Tracie Martin residence south of Lyons Friday and to Fugman Observatory south of Decatur Saturday to observe variable stars.  The Moon, Jupiter and other deep sky objects will also be observed through large astronomical telescopes.  You are invited to bring your binoculars and telescopes to the sessions as well.

 

For more information on this and future NENAC events, call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 or google “nenacstars” and Keep Looking Up!