Keep Looking Up!

Merry Christmas!  Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect upon the glory of God and the night sky!  When Nicolaus Copernicus died in 1543, his sun-centered solar system theory was published.  This publication inspired Galileo to make a number of important observations of the solar system.  Galileo published his findings about the workings of the solar system in 1610 and 1629.  And, even today, Copernicus’s view on our solar system enlightens our biblical knowledge about the Star of Bethlehem!

Young and old alike are invited to December’s meeting of the Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC).  On Friday, December 11 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, December 12 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center, Pastor Gary Fugman will highlight the Christmas season by discussing “Christmas, Copernicus and Astronomy”.  Important observations of the past along with computer images of those observations will be displayed.  Observations of the Christmas Star will be simulated.

Then free December star charts will be passed out and discussed.  Weather permitting, we will travel on Friday 3 miles south of Lyons to the Cory and Tracie Martin residence and on Saturday to Fugman Observatory on the south side of Decatur.  There we will observe the glorious, starry December night sky with large astronomical telescopes.  You are invited to bring your telescope or binoculars to observe with as well.  Please dress warmly for our December evenings.

For more information on future NENAC presentation, including NENAC’s 2016 “When We Meet” schedule, google “nenacstars” or call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953.  Merry Christmas and Keep Looking Up!

1. What do you believe about the Star of Bethlehem?

2. What do you know about Galileo’s use of a primitive telescope and observations of the planets?