Light and shadow in the Carina Nebula. NASA, the Hubble Heritage Team and Nolan R. Walborn (STScI), Rodolfo H. Barba’ (La Plata Observatory, Argentina), and Adeline Caulet (France).
We are offering two space-related programs as part of our Eckhart Winter Read initiative!
On Tuesday, January 26, at 7 p.m., retired professional astronomer Jon Thomas will be at the Eckhart Public Library for A Tour Of Our Galaxy. The spring and summer skies over Indiana offer a variety of celestial objects that are visible in small-to-moderate sized telescopes. These objects provide a great introduction to our own galaxy, revealing its size, shape and evolution. The talk will systematically travel along the Milky Way, highlighting some of the more easily identifiable constellation patterns and the locations of unique objects within them. For each object both Hubble and ground telescope views will be shown and compared. In addition, differences between the objects and their significance will be discussed.
Thomas has been a member of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society since 1961. A professional astronomer and alumnus of the University of Michigan, Thomas taught physics and astronomy at the University of North Carolina and was director of the Morehead Observatory before retiring from Lockheed-Martin Aerospace after a career designing, building and launching commercial satellites.
On Tuesday, February 9, at 7 p.m., Donn Starkey will be at Eckhart Public Library to present his experience in long-term research on variable stars. He will explain what they are and what observing them can tell us about the universe. For more information about variable star research, visit the American Association of Variable Star Observers at aavso.org. Registration is recommended and can be secured by calling 925-2414 ext. 120 or emailing reference@epl.lib.in.us.
Eckhart Winter Read runs through February 13. Children, teens, and adults can earn incentives and chances to win prizes by reading items checked out from Eckhart Public Library, and for conducting research at the Willennar Genealogy Center: A Service of Eckhart Public Library. In addition, the library is holding programs and activities related to the outer space theme. For more information, click here, visit the library’s website or pick up a booklet at any Eckhart Public Library campus building.
