Nebraska Star Party July 15 - 20, 2012

Earlier this month, sky gazers got the opportunity to see something that is so rare, according to news.nationalgeographic.com, that only six Venus transits have been observed since the invention of the telescope more than 400 years ago.

Here, the organizers of the Nebraska Star Party set up to see the Venus transit.



Organizer John Johnson took the photo below of the Venus transit. He is pictured above, near the vehicle, while putting his cowboy hat on.



We won't get to see the Venus transit at the Nebraska Star Party this July 15-20, 2012, but there are other things that you'll be able to see that are equally as stellar.

You have several options for luxurious accommodations including the Niobrara Inn, Trade Winds Lodge (Click on their advertisements along the side edge of the site to book your accommodations), or you can rough it by camping at Merritt Reservoir.

There are classes that can be taken for the beginner and intermediate sky watchers, along with classes for the kids. Classes on Wednesday, July 18, will be held at Valentine High School and will begin at 12:30 p.m and run through 4:30 p.m. at the school's auditorium. Here is a list of speakers with two of them using Skype to present their classes. 

Steven Lee works for JPL and is the Guidance, Navigation and Control Manager for the current NASA Mars Science Mission (http://mars.jpl.masa.gov/msl/) that is scheduled to land on Mars this August. He will share his presentation via Skype.

Also sharing via Skype, is Kevin Hussey, the JPL Manager of Visualization Technology, Applications and Development. He developed the Eyes on the Solar System and Eyes on the Earth programs.

Cal Beard, who will be at the auditorium live, is a comet hunter and will speak to the group about the science of comet hunting. (No bows and arrows needed for this hunt!)

Also speaking live, will be Mike McGlone, a NASA Education Specialist and will speak to the NSP attendees as well as to the teachers at the science teacher program.

The organizers will be co-sponsoring with the NASA-Nebraska Space Grant program, an extra middle and high school science teacher training seminar for teachers in the mid-part of the state plus Omaha area teachers.

You can find out more and register for a family filled week by going to the Nebraska Star Party's Web site at: www.nebraskastarparty.org

Look for clear skies and fun times. Last year, attendees were blessed with the most beautiful aurora borealis. You can see that photo by going to the events portion of this Web site. Who knows what our Creator will have planned for NSP 2012! Register now and see what that could be!

All eyes to the skies

With Hurricane Irene, all eyes have been focused on the skies. The stormy, rainy, cloudy, skies. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Eastern Seaboard and her people.
Meanwhile, closer to home, August has had some pretty interesting skies. Some have been stormier than others - none as destructive as Hurricane Irene - thank God.
The clouds are mostly a show from storms farther away, or are just starting up. A few inches of rain fell when they finally made it to Valentine. Local residents have said they've never seen the tops of the hills as green as they have this year.

The moon peeps out from a break in the clouds. 

Talk about a shelf cloud!!!! It was rolling in from the west, with this view looking south.

These are the clouds from above, only facing west. They brought some cooling winds.

There's something pretty spectacular with thunderheads and in the Sandhills, you can see them forming from a long way off. 

The sun is glinting off the tops of these thunderheads. 

And were reflected in the ponds at the Fish Hatchery.

Heat lightning brightens up the sky above and below.

Behind the clouds stars peep out. The brightest star above is Spica in the western sky. The photo below is facing more toward the south. What beauty in the night sky. 

Facing east this evening, a small and active cloud was showing off with all sorts of activity above and below. 

As the storm dissolves, it is replaced by the jewels of the night sky. 

For the folks who enjoyed the Star Party at Merritt Reservoir this year, they were treated to this aurora borealis on their last evening there. It was greatly appreciated with a lot of oohs and ahhhs. 

Here's hoping you can come to the Sandhills and enjoy some of the beauty the skies have to offer. Unspoiled. Pristine. Worth protecting!