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Bsuobservatory - Blog Posts
Wed. 9/25: We'll be closed tonight due to clouds. We'll try again next Wednesday!
Happy Monday!
Today's picture of the day was taken by Matthew Dominick from the ISS! The image shows a giant jet lightning, which is a new discovery (only 23 years!) and associated with thunderstorms. While regular lightning travels between the ground and the clouds, giant jet lightning bursts upwards.
Did you know that there are 5 known dwarf planets in our solar system? Everyone knows Pluto, but there is also Ceres, Haumea, Makemake and Eris.
Info from: https://www.iau.org/public/themes/pluto/#n6
Wed. Aug. 21 - We'll be open to the public tonight from 8:30 - 9:30 pm!
Happy Wednesday! It's time for an astronomy word of the day!
Asterism - an asterism is any prominent star pattern that isn’t a whole constellation, such as the Northern Cross or the Big Dipper (pictured below)
Definition from: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-terms/ Image from: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/a-new-way-to-see-the-big-dipper/
Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA
Image taken by Alexandros Maragos
There was a supermoon yesterday (August 19th), which means that the moon appears larger and brighter than usual! Alexandros Maragos took this image as the blue supermoon was approaching its peak at the Temple of Poseidon in Greece. What an incredible image!
Wed. Aug. 14 - The weather looks good! We'll be open tonight 8:30-9:30 pm.
Wed. Aug. 14 - The weather looks good tonight so far, but check back later for our final weather decision. If it stays nice enough, we'll be open from 8:30 - 9:30 pm!
According to this article on NASA's website, Eta Carinae, a star in the Keyhole Nebula, went through an interesting outburst about 170 years ago, which made it one of the brightest stars in the southern sky. Check it out!
Wed. 7/31: We'll be closed tonight due to clouds. Stay tuned for updates about August!
So far, the forecast this Wednesday doesn't look good, but we'll wait til that day to make the announcement. Stay tuned for August public night announcements, too!
Wed. Apr. 17: Another cloudy night, so we'll be closed. We'll try again next week.
Our supply of eclipse glasses is running very low.
We'll be open April 8th for the eclipse, too, with solar filters and projections of the Sun. Find us at Bridgewater State University's Science and Mathematics Center.
Solar Eclipse Event, Monday April 8th!
Next Monday, a solar eclipse will be visible from Bridgewater! Looking at an eclipse without proper eye protection can permanently damage your eyesight, but the observatory has prepared various ways to observe the eclipse safely. Our event and resources will be open to the public.
On Friday, April 5th, we'll have safe eclipse glasses/viewers available for pickup from 10:00 am - 7:30 pm while supplies last. They'll be located at the counter in the central lobby on the 1st floor of the Dana Mohler-Faria (DMF) Science and Mathematics Center. Each person may take up to 3 glasses/viewers. Be careful with these. If they're scratched or punctured, they are not safe.
On Monday, April 8th, weather allowing:
Starting at 9:00 am, we'll have safe eclipse glasses/viewers available for pickup while supplies last. These will be located at the counter in the central lobby on the 1st floor of the DMF Science and Mathematics Center, at several tables surrounding that building, and up on the 5th floor. (There will be additional locations meant for BSU Students only).
From 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm, we'll have projections of the Sun at several tables surrounding the DMF Science and Mathematics Center.
From 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm, we'll have solar telescopes on the 5th floor observing patios also in the DMF Science and Mathematics Center.
On Monday, April 8th, rain or shine:
From 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm, we'll stream video of the eclipse from the path of totality in the auditorium and central lobby on the 1st floor of the DMF Science and Math Center.
Parking will be available in the West Campus Lot behind the DMF Science and Mathematics Center. If that lot fills, you can park at the parking garage on East Campus.
We sure have been experiencing this around here. Not only has it affected temperatures, but the percentage of time the sky is cloudy. Our observatory takes images and hosts events less often in part because of the conditions of our sky.
So many people do not understand the relationship between climate change and cold weather.
Mosaic of the Eagle Nebula, June 6, 2015. Image Credit: Adam Gustafson | Jamie Kern | BSU Observatory.
Imaged in luminance and photometric R, V and B filters. Approximately 2 hours total exposure time.
The Eagle nebula is a stellar nursery where new stars are born.
The Black Eye Galaxy. Image Credit: Shane Johnson | Jamie Kern | BSU Observatory.
Imaged in luminance and photometric R, V and B filters. Total exposure time ~25 minutes.
The Black Eye Galaxy (M64) is a relatively nearby spiral with an extraordinary amount of dark dust partially obscuring its nucleus. Red hues peeking out in these dust lanes are caused by reddening when the dust scatters the bluer light from stars embedded within it. The color difference between the center and spiral arms is due to an average age difference between the stars in these locations--blue stars have short lives, so as the star population ages the overall color appears more red.
Fall 2023 Public Events
Our next round of public events starts in September - here's the schedule (each event is weather-dependent, so always check back to see if the event is on!):
Public Nights on Wednesdays: - Sept. 27, 7:30 - 9:00 pm - Oct. 4, 11, and 18, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Nov. 1, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Nov. 8 and 15, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Special Daytime Event: Oct. 14 Partial Solar Eclipse! 10:30 am - 2:45 pm
Halloween Events! - Oct. 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Rain Date 1: Oct. 26, 7:00 - 8:30 pm (only occurs if Oct. 25 doesn't) - Rain Date 2: Oct. 30, 7:00 - 8:30 pm (only occurs if both Oct. 25 and 26 do not)
During our events, we set up telescopes and find objects in the sky for our visitors to see. We talk astronomy, too! Our events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages.
Mosaic of the Eagle Nebula, June 6, 2015. Image Credit: Adam Gustafson | Jamie Kern | BSU Observatory.
Imaged in luminance and photometric R, V and B filters. Approximately 2 hours total exposure time.
The Eagle nebula is a stellar nursery where new stars are born.