Keep Looking Up!

“Beyond Messier, Into the Cosmic Web!”

In March Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) took all in attendance on a grand tour of the deep sky objects catalogued in the late 1700’s by Charles Messier.  A good part of those Messier objects are included in a web of galaxies that stretch from the tale of the constellation Leo to the outstretched hand of Virgo.  A web?  Yes, a web!  The universe is a pretty empty place.  There are “cosmic voids” divided by “cosmic webs” made of galaxies that stretch billions of light years towards the limits of the known universe.  Amazing!

All are invited to NENAC Friday, April 17 at 8pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, April 18 at 8pm at the Decatur Sears Center.  There Pastor Gary Fugman will lead a discussion on the cosmic web.  Only recently has it been possible to map the distribution of thousands of galaxies spread across billions of light years.  A striking weblike pattern, with lines, sheets, clusters and voids of galaxies fill our universe.  These patterns can be traced back directly to the microwave background, a remnant of the Big Bang.

After our web discussion, free April star charts will be explained and weather permitting, Friday we will travel 3 miles south of Lyons to the Cory and Tracie Martin residence to view cosmic web galaxies stretching between Leo and Virgo with their large telescope.  Saturday we will observe this cosmic web at Fugman Observatory on the south side of Decatur.

The planets Venus and Jupiter will also be observed.  You are encouraged to bring your telescope and binoculars to observe the universe with us.

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