Keep Looking Up!

April 15, 2015 Leave a comment


 By Pastor Gary Fugman
“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! 

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Keep Looking Up!

January 15, 2015 Leave a comment


“Your Lunar Learning Curve; Get Started Observing the Moon” By Gary Fugman

 

Photo Courtesy of Gary Fugman.

Photo Courtesy of Gary Fugman.

Happy New Year!  How about starting 2015 with a fun project that cam be accomplished in just four weeks?  This fun project will teach you much about our nearest neighbor in space, the Moon.  The project is well suited for young or inexperienced observers and develops your visual, binocular and small telescope skills.  Besides, after this experience, you could take your “date” outside on a perfect evening, promise him/her the Moon and stars…and really deliver!
This Friday, January 16 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, January 17 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center, Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) with Pastor Gary Fugman will lead a discussion on completing a one month Astronomical League project to observe the Moon.  We will explain what features on the Moon can be seen with the naked eye, binoculars and a small telescope.  Then the discussion will center on what particular features to observe the third week of January, before 1st quarter Moon, the last week of January, 1st quarter Moon, the first week of February, full Moon, and the second week of February, 3rd quarter Moon.  Lists of lunar craters, seas, mountains and other features will be explained.  Ways to log and sketch your lunar observations will be discussed.  Moon maps will be made available and how to obtain your Astronomical League lunar certificate and pin will be explained.  Plus, you’ll be ready on Saturday, February14 to give your Valentine the Moon and the stars!
Later in the evening the January evening sky will be shown to all on free stars charts.  Weather permitting, Friday we will go to the Cory and Tracie Martin residence 3 miles south of Lyons and Saturday to Fugman Observatory on the south side of Decatur to observe the night sky through large, astronomical telescopes.  You are invited to bring your binoculars and telescopes as well.  Please dress warmly as winter evenings cool quickly.
For more information on this and future NENAC programs, google “nenacstars” or call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 and Keep Looking Up!
Questions to Consider:
Why are humans so intrigued with the Moon?
When you look up at the Moon, why are some areas white and some areas grey?

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Come to NENAC This Weekend

December 17, 2014 Leave a comment


“Keep Looking Up!” by Pastor Gary Fugman
“The Star of Bethlehem, The Bible and Astronomy–Come to NENAC This Weekend”
Christmas, “Christ with us”, is a many faceted celebration!  The account of the Wise Men visiting the infant Jesus has it’s root in prophesy in the Bible’s Old Testament books of Job, Psalms and Isaiah.  More to the point, prophesy concerning God’s power over the universe, so that the Star of Bethlehem led the Wise Men to the Christ child, is documented in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
This Friday, December 19 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, December 20 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center, Pastor Gary Fugman will lead a discussion on “The Star of Bethlehem, the Bible and Astronomy”.  All people of all ages are invited to this descriptive account, complete with a computerized planetarium program, that will take you back to the nights skies of 3 and 2 B.C. over Bethlehem.  How did the Magi know about the birth of Jesus Christ?  What happened in the night sky that compelled the Magi to seek out the Baby Jesus?  Come to Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) this weekend and see for yourself!
Then, free December star charts will be given to you and 2014’s December night sky will be explained.  You will have the opportunity to join and partake in Astronomical League observing programs for 2015.  Finally, weather permitting, Friday we will then go 3 miles south of Lyons to the Cory & Tracie Martin residence to observe the night sky through large astronomical telescopes.  Saturday we will observe the night sky at Fugman Observatory on the south side of Decatur.  Please dress warmly as evening temperatures cool quickly.  For more information on this and future NENAC programs, call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 or google “nenacstars“.
Merry Christmas!  Celebrate the coming of Christmas, Jesus’ birthday, with a new understanding of the Star of Bethlehem, and Keep Looking Up!

Photo Courtesy of NENAC.

Photo Courtesy of NENAC.

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Keep Looking Up

May 29, 2014 Leave a comment


Keep Looking Up! by Bill Hedges
“See the Entire Universe This Weekend!”
What does it take to understand the size of the universe in which we live?  It is difficult to comprehend the scale of the cosmos.  There is not only the “macro cosmos”, the universe that is larger than we can see; there is also the “micro cosmos”, the subatomic world that is smaller than we can see.  By using the scaling powers of 10, this weekend we will take a visual journey in both these directions and see the smallest and largest structures of the universe with everything in between!  Our space ship for this journey will be the IMAX movie “Cosmic Voyage”.
 
People of all ages are invited to Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) Friday, May 30 at 9pm to the Lyons Library and Saturday, May 31 at 9pm to the Decatur Sears Center.  There Bill Hedges will describe and present the scale of the universe.  After your “Cosmic Voyage”, all will receive free May star charts and the May night sky will be discussed.  Then, weather permitting, we will observe the red planet Mars, the ringed planet Saturn and deep sky objects with the Hedges telescope in Lyons Friday and the Fugman telescope in Decatur Saturday.  You are encouraged to bring your binoculars or telescope to the observing sessions.
 
For more information on this and future NENAC presentations, please call Bill Hedges at 687-2125 or google “nenacstars”, and Keep Looking Up!

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