Keep Looking Up!

March 17, 2015 Leave a comment


By Gary Fugman
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“Messier, the Man and the Marathon.  Will You Run It?”
Image that you are living outside of Paris, France 250 years ago in 1765.  You own a telescope that is 4″ across, plenty of diameter of telescope to discover comets that are now small but heading toward the Sun, growing their famous tails.  You take great pleasure in this new area of study, the telescopic discovery of comets.  But, in night after night of searching for these new comets, you are distracted.  You are thwarted!  There are these small, fuzzy objects seen in your telescope.  You watch for them to move past the far away stars like comets do.  But they stay motionless.  They waste your valuable observing time.  You don’t know what these objects are, but they are not comets!  What will you do?
People of all ages are invited to Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) at 8pm this Friday, March 20 at the Lyons Library and Saturday, March 21 at the Decatur Sears Center to discuss with Pastor Gary Fugman the life and times of Charles Messier.  Messier discovered 13 comets between 1760 and 1785.  But that is not why we remember Messier today.  We remember him today for his list of 110 deep sky objects that do not “move”.  The discussion will then take you to how it is possible on a Moonless night in March to see, to run the marathon of viewing, all 110 of these deep sky wonders in that one night!  Wow!  What would that take?
Then March star charts will be handed out and explained.  Astronomical League observing programs will be offered.  And, weather permitting, Friday we will travel 3 miles south of Lyons to the Cory and Tracie Martin residence to view Venus, Jupiter and Messier objects through large astronomical telescopes.  Saturday, weather permitting, we will view from Fugman Observatory on the south side of Decatur.  You are encouraged to bring your binoculars or telescope for viewing, too.
For more information on this and future NENAC activities, google “nenacstars” or call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 and Keep Looking Up!

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Keep Looking Up

August 27, 2014 Leave a comment


“Monster in the Middle of the Milky Way”
By Pastor Gary Fugman
We look into the evening sky in late summer and see the marvelous Milky Way Galaxy that we live in arcing overhead.  Even with the unaided eye, here in eastern Nebraska we can tell that our galaxy is a combination of stars, bright material and dark material.  What do we know about the structure of our home galaxy?  What do we know about what holds our home galaxy together?  And, what about the evidence of a monstrous black hole residing in the middle of our Milky Way?
This Friday, August 29 at 8pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, August 30 at 8pm at the Decatur Sears Center, Pastor Gary Fugman will lead a discussion on the galaxy we call home.  Images of giant stars zooming around the center of the galaxy indicating the presence of a monstrous black hole will also be seen.  Star charts will be given and the August-September night sky will be displayed.  We offer to those who desire to officially join Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) and the Astronomical League with observing programs, newsletters and book discount benefits, the opportunity to bring a check made out to the Astronomical League for $12.50 annual dues.
Then, weather permitting, Friday 3 miles south of Lyons at the Cory and Tracie Martin residence and Saturday on the south side of Decatur at Fugman Observatory, we will observe deep sky objects that define the center on our Milky Way Galaxy.  You are encouraged to bring your binoculars or telescope to observe this fascinating part of the sky as well.
For more information on this and future NENAC meetings, google “nenacstars” or call 349-1953, and Keep Looking Up!

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Keep Looking Up!

January 14, 2014 Leave a comment


By Gary Fugman

Cory Martin observing through the 17.5″ reflector at Fugman Observatory. Photo courtesy of Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club.

Cory Martin observing through the 17.5″ reflector at Fugman Observatory. Photo courtesy of Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club.

“Jupiter To Be Seen At It’s Best This Week!”
Young and old alike are invited to Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) this weekend for a close up look at the “King of the Planets”, Jupiter.  Pastor Gary Fugman, member of NENAC, states, “Here in January 2014, Jupiter is now about as good as we ever see it from Earth.  Jupiter is an active, giant planet that easily displays cloud belts with various changing details and four Galilean moons that cross the planet regularly.”  It is no wonder that when Galileo first turned his telescope to the night sky and spied Jupiter and it’s moons that astronomy and the Earth’s place in the heavens was changed forever.
Share the thrill of seeing Jupiter for yourself!  This Friday, January 17 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, January 18 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center Pastor Gary will take you on a tour of Jupiter.  First, we will start inside with computer projections of Jupiter and free star charts, then, weather permitting, we will go outside to view Jupiter at the Hedges Observatory Friday and the Fugman Observatory Saturday.  Please dress warmly as the temperature drops quickly after sunset.
For information on this and future NENAC presentations, call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 or google “nenacstars” and Keep Looking Up!
Questions to Consider:
We observe volcanoes on Earth.  Where was the 2nd place humans observed volcanoes in the Solar System?
Why are the volcanoes on this other place in the Solar System active?

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