2012  SKYWATCH  2013

    Fall Star Party        September 9 (Sunday) 8:00 p.m.

 

Public viewing  (All are Welcome)      beginning at 8:00 p.m. through Salina      Astronomy Club telescopes at The Land Institute.  Parking is on the north side of Water Well Road across from the west       entrance.  Observing in the open field on the south  side of the road.   Setup at  7:30 p.m.    

Search for Exoplanets

October 19 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

What worlds may exist beyond our own solar system?  Dr. David Hanson of the Salina Astronomy Club will explain methods of searching for planets circling other stars and give an update of exoplanets which have been discovered.

 

 

Black Holes

November 9 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

 

What is a “black hole”?  How do they form?  What affect do they have on objects around them?   Explore the origin, nature and possible fates of these peculiar            astronomical objects with KWU Science faculty member  Dr.  Dorothy Hanna.

Star Hopping:  Part II

February 8 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

 

Interested in astronomy as a hobby?  The best way to begin is with a good pair of binoculars.  Tonight we will explore some of the beautiful objects in the winter sky which can be viewed with binoculars and learn how to locate them .

 

Kansas Wesleyan University and the Salina Astronomy Club present ...

Star Hopping:  Part I

January 11 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

Finding their way in the night sky is the first challenge faced by amateur astronomers.            Tonight Dr. Dorothy Hanna will explain the tools and tricks astronomers use to get their bearings when doing unaided visual observations.

How Far is That?                The Cosmic Distance Ladder

December 7 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

 

How can astronomers measure the distance to objects we cannot reach?  SAC member Jeffrey Kasoff  will discuss ingenious     strategies used in the past and present to   determine astronomical distances.

Star Hopping:  Part III

March 8 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

 

Ready to make the jump to a telescope?  Dobsonians are a simple, inexpensive choice for a starter scopes. Tonight SAC members will discuss strategies for  viewing deep sky objects using simple manually operated telescopes such as the Dob.

Spring Star Party

April 12 (Friday) 8:00 p.m.

 

Meet at the Land Institute to participate in viewing constellations, planets and Messier objects in the spring sky.  Bring binoculars or telescopes if you have them, or enjoy the viewing through the SAC telescopes .which will be set up for public viewing. (All are Welcome) Set up will begin at 7:30 pm

 

Skywatch is free and open to the public.   More information at  http://www.orgsites.com/ks/salina-astronomy-club/

 

Presentations are in room 229 of Peters Science Hall unless otherwise noted.  Each program will be followed by viewing through KWU and SAC telescopes, weather permitting.  Programs are subject to change.                           Image Credit:  NASA; ESA; Z. Levay and R. van der Marel, STScI; T. Hallas; and A. Mellinger

Predicted Merger of M31 & Milky Way in 3.75 Ga