 The Drake Municipal Observatory |
CONTACT: Charles Nelson, 515-271-3034, charles.nelson@drake.edu;
Lisa Lacher, 515-271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu
The intriguing topic of whether discoveries can still be made on Earth will be explored during the summer series of Friday evening public presentations at the Drake Municipal Observatory.
The summer series will begin with a presentation on the information obtained from outer space and the atmosphere at 9 p.m. Friday, June 8, at the observatory in Waveland Park on the west side of Des Moines.
Each week there will be a non-technical, illustrated presentation on an astronomical topic by Charles Nelson or Herbert Schwartz of Drake University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. The presentation will be followed by the opportunity to view several stellar objects through the large refracting telescope and several smaller reflecting telescopes. The program will be held regardless of the weather, although the selection for observation is subject to change due to sky conditions or other special circumstances.
Individuals, families and small groups are welcome to attend the presentations, which begin at 9 p.m. each Friday from June 8 through July 13. A parent or responsible adult must accompany children.
The schedule for the summer series is listed below:
- June 8: “What information do we get from space?”
- June 15: “Optical Telescopes and Their Tricks and Accessories.”
- June 22: “Radio Telescopes and Their Tricks and Accessories.”
- June 29: “CCDs, Selective Filters and Image Enhancement.”
- July 6: “Amateurs: Small Scopes Making Big Discoveries.”
- July 13: “How to Buy a Telescope You Will Use and Not Get Tired of.”
For more information, contact Drake’s Department of Physics and Astronomy at 515-271-3141.