Hudnall Planetarium Blog

We've Moved

2012-01-11T16:09:00.000-06:00

The Hudnall Planetarium is now the Center for Earth & Space Science at Tyler Junior College. Please check out the new website and blog at http://www.tjc.edu/cesse/

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy any copies.

Phil Plait "Death From The Skies" at the Center for Earth & Space Science Education

2012-01-04T17:55:00.000-06:00

Greetings to Friends of the CESSE at TJC,

What: “Death from the Skies” by Dr. Phil Plait, Ph.D.

When: Tuesday, Jan 10, at 6:30PM, all seats: $20.

Where: Center for Earth & Space Science Education (1411 E. Lake St) on the TJC main campus.

Next Tuesday, Jan 10, beginning at 6:30pm, Dr. Phil Plait will be speaking about his book “Death From The Skies” at the new Center for Earth & Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door or online at http://www.tjc.edu/cesse/

Dr. Phil Plait, the “Bad Astronomer,” is an internationally renowned astronomer, author (Bad Astronomy and Death From

the Skies), lecturer, and blogger best known for his endeavors in clearing up public misconceptions about astronomy and space science as portrayed in movies, the news, print and on the internet. He received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Virginia in 1984. Not only did he spend 10 years working on the Hubble Space Telescope, but Dr. Plait also spent six more years working on NASA-sponsored public outreach programs at Sonoma State University. He is a frequent guest on many science radio and TV shows and is the science consultant for the film Black Holes:The Other Side of Infinity, an intriguing look into the facts and theory surrounding mysterious black holes in space. Black Holes is presently showing at the Center for Earth & Space Science Education at TJC.

For more information please call 903-510-2312 or visit http://www.tjc.edu/cesse/

Dr. Tom Hooten, Ed.D.

Professor, Physics & Engineering

Director, Center for Earth & Space Science Education

Tyler Junior College

CESSE Friends List

2011-10-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

In order to join the new Friends List for the Center for Earth & Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College, visit our new website htt://www.tjc.edu/CESSE and click on the Friends tab.

Thanks for your continued support.

The Center for Earth & Space Science Education

at Tyler Junior College

[FOTHP] The new Planetarium at TJC is now the CESSE!

2011-05-16T14:43:00.000-05:00

Greetings Friends of the (former) Hudnall Planetarium,

As many of you know, Tyler Junior College closed the Hudnall Planetarium last August for major facility renovations. Since then, construction has been underway and we're on schedule to open a brand new, fascinating facility that honestly deserves to be called "world class" (no kidding!) in September 2011. The new facility is the Center for Earth & Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College.

In addition to the renovated Planetarium with a 40' domed theatre, the CESSE will contain multiple exhibit spaces, classroom areas, an enclosed Lunch & Learn courtyard, and a solar-lunar plaza. Grand opening activities in September will feature "Cosmic Collisions", a full-dome show narrated by Robert Redford and produced by the American Museum of Natural History. It features some of the most impressive and scientifically accurate simulations of destructive impacts ever created.

Complementing the show will be the national premiere of the exhibit "Great Balls of Fire". Developed by the Space Science Institute with funding from the NSF and NASA, it's sure to be an integral part of your visit to the CESSE.

Special opening events are being planned now. I will send out more information about our opening activities when they are confirmed. In the meantime, stay updated on our progress on Facebook and Twitter. We can be reached by e-mail at planetarium@tjc.edu or call 903-510-2313.

Many thanks for your past support and making the Hudnall Planetarium a success. I'm looking forward to seeing you during the Grand Opening and to continuing our mission in the new facility.

Tom Hooten, Ed.D.

Professor, Physics & Engineering

Director, Center for Earth & Space Science Education

Tyler Jr. College

P O Box 9020

Tyler, TX 75711

903-510-2887

thoo@tjc.edu

http://planetarium.tjc.edu

[You received this message because you or someone subscribed to the Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium email list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.]

[FOTHP] June Public Show

2010-06-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"MARS:
4TH WORLD"
AT HUDNALL
PLANETARIUM

On June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation
of "Mars: 4th World", an original planetarium show from the Hudnall
Planetarium. It has been called many names throughout the ages, but we
call it Mars. This show is all about Mars and how it has influenced our
culture and our science. Is there life on Mars? Will humans one day
live on this fourth world? Explore all the possibilities in this
original production from the Hudnall Planetarium.

Admission costs to "Mars: 4th World" are $3.00 per person. Tickets
are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No seating
is allowed after the show begins. For more information about the
Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website
at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall planetarium is located on the
main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street.

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[FOTHP]May Public Shows

2010-04-26T16:21:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

HUDNALL PLANETARIUM PRESENTS "THE COWBOY ASTRONOMER"

On May 1, 2, 15, 16, 22, and 23 at 2:00 PM, Hudnall Planetarium will
feature the public presentation of "The Cowboy Astronomer", a
planetarium show that explores the stars from a cowboy's point of view,
narrated by cowboy humorist Baxter Black.

"The Cowboy Astronomer" is a skillfully woven tapestry of star tales
and Native American legends, combined with constellation identification,
star-hopping, and astronomy tidbits - all told from the unique viewpoint
of a cowboy astronomer who has traveled the world plying his trade and
learning the sky along the way.

Admission costs to "The Cowboy Astronomer" are $3.00 per person.
Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No
seating is allowed after the show begins. For more information about
Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website
at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall Planetarium is located on the
main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] April Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2010-04-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

Tyler Junior College &
Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Spring 2010
Public Astronomy
Lecture Series

&

Star Party

Speaker: Andrew Kocurek
Topic: "Life in Our Universe"
Date/Time: Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 7:00 P.M.
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center on TJC Main
Campus

The Public Astronomy Lecture Series (PALS) is an astronomical outreach
program of Hudnall Planetarium intended to keep the public informed of
recent news, events and discoveries related to astronomy and space
science. The series consists of monthly programs presented by
instructors, experts, and other academic and scientific professionals.
Each lecture is open to the public.

The next lecture of the series will be held at the TJC Main Campus in
Rogers Student Center, Apache Room 4 on Saturday, April 24, 2010,
beginning at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be given by Andrew Kocurek
on the topic of "Life in Our Universe".

Following the lecture, as weather permits, the Astronomical Society of
East Texas will host a Star Party for naked-eye and telescopic viewing
of the night-time sky. Large and small telescopes will be on hand for
viewing the moon, planets, and interesting sky objects. Astronomical
Society members will also be available for questions and discussions
concerning telescopes, constellations, and celestial happenings.

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour
before each lecture. Admission is $3.00 per person. Hudnall
Planetarium is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College main
campus near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street. Free
parking is available.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]March PALS

2010-03-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior College &
Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Spring 2010
Public Astronomy
Lecture Series

&

Star Party

Speaker: Justin Parrish
Topic: "Looking Back: Astronomy as a Time Capsule"
Date/Time: Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 7:00 P.M.
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center on TJC Main
Campus

The next lecture of the series will be held at the TJC Main Campus in
Rogers Student Center, Apache Room 4 on Saturday, March 27, 2010,
beginning at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be given by Justin Parrish
on the topic of "Looking Back: Astronomy as a Time Capsule". Justin
Parrish is the former president of the Astronomical Society of East
Texas.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]February Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2010-02-05T13:34:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Hudnall Planetarium

presents the

Spring 2010
Public
Astronomy Lecture Series

Topic: "Biological Evolution in Our Universe"
Date/Time: Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 7:00PM
Where: Apache Rooms 3-4, Rogers Student Center

The Public Astronomy Lecture Series (PALS) is a science outreach
program of Hudnall Planetarium intended to keep the public informed of
recent news, events and discoveries related to science. The series
consists of monthly programs presented by instructors, experts, and
other academic and scientific professionals. Each lecture is open to
the public.

Hudnall Planetarium will host a panel discussion on "Biological
Evolution in Our Universe" on Saturday, February 13, 2010 beginning at
7:00 p.m. The event will be held in Apache Rooms 3 & 4 in the Roger's
Student Center on the Tyler Junior College main campus.

Panel members will include: Dr. Betsy Ott is a Professor of Biology at
Tyler Junior College, discussing "Lines of Evidence: Predicting Fossil
Finds", Dr. Zachary Moore, Host of Evolution 101 podcast and Executive
Director of Fellowship of Freethought Dallas, discussing "Evolution:
The Evidence is Inside of You", and Tom Hooten, Professor of Physics
at Tyler Junior College and Director of Hudnall Planetarium, discussing
"Science Literacy and Evolution in Our Universe".

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour
before each lecture. Admission is free and free parking is available.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]February Public Shows

2010-02-03T10:54:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"MARS: 4TH WORLD" AT HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

On February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of
"Mars: 4th World", an original planetarium show from the Hudnall
Planetarium. It has been called many names throughout the ages, but we
call it Mars. This show is all about Mars and how it has influenced our
culture and our science. Is there life on Mars? Will humans one day
live on this fourth world? Explore all the possibilities in this
original production from the Hudnall Planetarium.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]January Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2010-01-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior
College & Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Spring 2010
Public
Astronomy Lecture Series

Speaker: Tom Hooten, NASA/JPL Ambassador, Director Hudnall
Planetarium
Topic: "Astronomy Top 10 in 2009"
Date/Time: Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 7:00PM
Where: Hudnall Planetarium

The Public Astronomy Lecture Series (PALS) is an astrophysics outreach
program of Hudnall Planetarium intended to keep the public informed of
recent news, events and discoveries related to astronomy and space
science. The series consists of monthly programs presented by
instructors, experts, and other academic and scientific professionals.
Each lecture is open to the public.

The next PALS event will be held at the Hudnall Planetarium on
Saturday, January 30, 2010 beginning at 7:00 PM. The lecture will be
given by Tom Hooten on the topic of "Astronomy Top 10 in 2009". Tom
Hooten is the Director of Hudnall Planetarium and a NASA/JPL Solar
System Ambassador.

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour
before each lecture. Admission is $3.00 per person. This month's
lecture will be held in Hudnall Planetarium on the TJC main campus.
Hudnall Planetarium is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College
main campus near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street. Free
parking is available.

Dates, topics and speakers for future 2010 PALS events are listed
below.

Date Location
Speaker

Feb 13
7:00PM Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center
Panel Discussion

"Biological Evolution in Our
Universe"
Mar 27
7:00PM Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center
Justin Parrish

"Looking Back: Astronomy as a Time
Capsule"
Apr 24
7:00PM Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center
Andrew Kocurek

"Life in Our
Universe"

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] January Public Shows

2010-01-15T12:52:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"SECRET OF
THE CARDBOARD ROCKET"

PUBLIC SHOW
AT
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

On January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31 at 2:00 P.M., Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of
"Secret of the Cardboard Rocket". Experience a tour of the solar
system, land on the moon, see dust storms on Mars, and fly through the
rings of Saturn, all while traveling along with two children as they
discover the "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket".

Admission costs to "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket" are $3.00 per
person. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each
showing. No seating is allowed after the show begins. For more
information about the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the
planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall planetarium
is located on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the
intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] December Public Show

2009-12-02T13:22:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior
College & Hudnall Planetarium

present

A Christmas Experience

"Star of the Magi"

Date/Time: Friday, December 4, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday, December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20 2009 at
2:00 p.m.
Private showings available upon request.

Where: Hudnall Planetarium on the TJC Main Campus

Hudnall Planetarium presents their Christmas show, Star of the Magi.
Public showings will be presented on Saturday and Sunday, December 5th,
6th, 12th, 13th, 20th and 21st at 2:00 p.m. The season premier will be
presented on Friday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m.

The Star of the Magi deals with one of the most beautiful and
mysterious stories ever told - the journey of the Wise Men who visited
Christ at his birth. The show takes a sincere and serious look at
potential explanations for the Star of Bethlehem. You will be left with
a new appreciation for the night sky and the beauty of the starry host
above.

Seating is limited and doors will open one half hour before each show.
Tickets are available at the door one half hour before each showing. No
seating is allowed after the show begins. Admission is $3.00 per
person. Hudnall Planetarium is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior
College main campus near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake
Street. Free parking is available.

For more information or to arrange a special showing contact the
planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]November Public Shows

2009-11-04T09:58:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"RINGWORLD" AT
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

On November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation
of "Ringworld". "Ringworld" allows you to experience the most
ambitious effort in planetary space exploration ever mounted -- the
international Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons. The
mission is expected to last through 2008, making "Ringworld" a
timely show about current events.

Admission costs to "Ringworld" are $3.00 per person. Tickets are
available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No seating is
allowed after the show begins. For more information about the Hudnall
Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall planetarium is located on the
main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] Oct. Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2009-10-27T12:39:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior College
& Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Fall 2009
Public
Astronomy Lecture Series

Speaker: Paul Shaw
Topic: "Radio Astronomy"
Date/Time: Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center

The next lecture of the series will be held at Apache Room 4, Rogers
Student Center on Saturday, October 31, 2009 beginning at 7:00 PM. The
presentation will be given by Paul Shaw on the topic of the "Radio
Astronomy." Paul Shaw is a member of the Astronomical Society of East
Texas..

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour
before each lecture. Admission is $3.00 per person. Rogers Student
Center is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College main campus
near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street. Free parking is
available.

Dates, topics and speakers for future 2008 PALS events are listed
below.

Date Location
Speaker

Nov 21
Tom Geddie
7:00 PM Hudnall Planetarium
"Celestial Poetry in the Dome"

Dec 4
"Star of the Magi"
7:00 PM Hudnall Planetarium
Season Premier

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] October Public Shows

2009-09-29T10:38:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium

"HUBBLE: IMAGES OF THE INFINITE" AT
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

On October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, and November 1 at 2:00 PM,
Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public
presentation of "Hubble: Images of the Infinite". This show
features a marvelous recap of discoveries made by the Hubble Space
Telescope, including historical highlights and top science findings.
You will take an unforgettable tour through the solar system, the Milky
Way Galaxy, and the limits of the visible universe. The show features
spectacular images and narration by Bill Kurtis.

Admission costs to "Hubble: Images of the Infinite" are $3.00 per
person. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each
showing. No seating is allowed after the show begins. For more
information about the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the
planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall planetarium
is located on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the
intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]Sept. PALS

2009-09-22T15:23:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior College &
Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Fall 2009
Public Astronomy
Lecture Series

Speaker: Hutson Betts, AggieSat Lab - Skynet Project Lead
Topic: "AggieSat2"
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center

The next lecture of the series will be held at the Apache Room 4,
Rogers Student Center on Saturday, September 26, 2009 beginning at 7:00
PM. The presentation will be given by Hutson Betts on the topic of
"AggieSat2". He will also discuss how students, professionals,
and amateur radio operators communicate with low earth orbit
satellites.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]September Public Shows

2009-09-09T08:50:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"MORE THAN
MEETS THE EYE"
AT HUDNALL
PLANETARIUM

On September 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature a public presentation of
"More Than Meets The Eye", a planetarium show that describes the
joys of night sky observing using the unaided eye, binoculars, and small
telescopes. "More Than Meets The Eye" is the perfect show if you
consider yourself a stargazer. Constellations, planets, nebulae, star
clusters, and galaxies all appear differently depending upon if you view
with the unaided eye, or with binoculars, or with a telescope. This
show proves that backyard astronomy can be enjoyable and simple. You
will quickly discover that there is a lot more to the night sky than
meets the eye.

Admission costs to "More Than Meets The Eye" are $3.00 per person.
Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No
seating is allowed after the show begins. For more information about
the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium
website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall Planetarium is located
on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of
Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]July Premier of "Lunar Odyssey"

2009-07-07T08:52:00.000-05:00

HUDNALL PLANETARIUM CELEBRATES THE 40TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING WITH A NEW EXHIBIT AND
PLANETARIUM SHOW

Hudnall Planetarium will premier its newest planetarium show, "Lunar
Odyssey" in July to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo
11 moon landing. In "Lunar Odyssey" experts in lunar mythology,
history, science, and astronomy take you on a guided tour of the awesome
beauty and mysteries of Earth's nearest neighbor in space. Show times
are at 2:00 p.m. on July 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, Hudnall
Planetarium unveils its moon landing exhibit. The exhibit contains
slide footage of NASA's Apollo 11 moon landing mission. Take a trip
back to July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong stepped
out of the lunar module and took "one small step" in the Sea of
Tranquility, calling it "a giant leap for mankind."

Admission costs to "Lunar Odyssey" are $3.00 per person. Tickets
are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No seating
is allowed after the show begins. For more information about the
Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website
at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall Planetarium is located on the
main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]June Public Show

2009-06-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"THE PLANETS"

PUBLIC SHOW
AT HUDNALL
PLANETARIUM

This Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public premier
presentation of "The Planets". Hudnall Planetarium's newest
production features an exciting tour of the Solar System that looks at
each planet as well as Solar System formation and extra-solar planets.
"The Planets" is narrated by Kate Mulgrew of "Star Trek:
Voyager".

Admission costs are $3.00 per person. Tickets are available at the
door one-half hour before each showing. No seating is allowed after the
show begins. For more information about the Hudnall Planetarium call
903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall Planetarium is located on the
main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]Astronomy Day

2009-04-29T10:51:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

HUDNALL PLANETARIUM CELEBRATES ASTRONOMY DAY

Hudnall Planetarium will host an Astronomy Day celebration on Saturday,
May 2nd featuring free admission to public planetarium shows from 10:00
A.M. - 2:30 PM. Schedule of events as follows:

TIME SHOW

10:00 AM "Hubble: Images of the Infinite"
11:30 AM "Ringworld"
1:00 PM "Mars: 4th World"
2:30 PM "The Planets"

Admission is free to all Astronomy Day shows. Hudnall Planetarium is
located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College main campus near the
intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street. Free parking is
available.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312, email
at planetarium@tjc.edu, or visit the planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]April Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2009-04-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior
College & Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Spring 2009
Public
Astronomy Lecture Series

Speaker: Ken Lambdin
Topic: "Measuring the Universe"
Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Where: Hudnall Planetarium

The next lecture of the series will be held at the Hudnall Planetarium
on Saturday, April 25, 2009 beginning at 7:00 PM. The presentation will
be given by Ken Lambdin on the topic of "Measuring the Universe".
He will also discuss how the size of the earth was first determined and
how the distance to the sun was measured.

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour
before each lecture. Admission is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for
students and senior adults. Hudnall Planetarium is located in the heart
of the Tyler Junior College main campus near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street. Free parking is available.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] April Public Show

2009-04-01T08:09:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"MORE
THAN MEETS THE EYE"
AT
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

This Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of
"More Than Meets The Eye", a planetarium show that describes the
joys of night sky observing using the unaided eye, binoculars, and small
telescopes. "More Than Meets The Eye" is the perfect show if you
consider yourself a stargazer. Constellations, planets, nebulae, star
clusters, and galaxies all appear differently depending upon if you view
with the unaided eye, or with binoculars, or with a telescope. This
show proves that backyard astronomy can be enjoyable and simple. You
will quickly discover that there is a lot more to the night sky than
meets the eye.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] Hudnall Planetarium Needs a Part-Timer

2009-03-31T09:16:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium:
Hudnall Planetarium currently has openings for part-time Planetarium Educators. This is a fun job! It is for someone who is responsible, interested in science, and is not-too-shy. This person does not get a regular paycheck, but gets paid on a by-show, as needed basis. The hours are flexible but are usually mornings or weekends. It would be the perfect job for a stay-at-home parent with kids in school pr maybe a retired teacher who only wants to work about 2-3 days a week. If you would like more info, there is a brief description posted at:

http://planetarium.tjc.edu/Part-TimePlanetEd.htm

If you know someone interested, please have them read the online description and send in a resume.

Thanks!

Misty Barron
Scheduling Coordinator, Hudnall Planetarium
Voice: 903-510-2312
Email: mbar@tjc.edu

[FOTHP]March Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2009-03-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Hudnall Planetarium

presents the

Spring 2009
Public Astronomy
Lecture Series

Speaker: Mike Scott, NASA Engineer, Barrios Technology Space
Shuttle Flight Design & Dynamics
Topic: "Space Shuttle Flight Operations"
Date/Time: Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center

The Public Astronomy Lecture Series (PALS) is an astronomical outreach
program of Hudnall Planetarium. PALS events are intended to keep the
public informed of recent news, events and discoveries related to
astronomy and space science. The series consists of monthly star
parties and programs presented by instructors, experts, and other
academic and scientific professionals. Each lecture is open to the
public.

The next lecture of the series will be held at the Hudnall Planetarium
on the TJC main campus on March 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Mike Scott,
Aerospace Engineer for NASA subcontractor Barrios Technology working on
space shuttle flight design and dynamics, will be speaking on "Space
Shuttle Flight Operations".

Future 2009 PALS lectures will be:
Date/Time Where
Speaker
April 25 7:00 P.M. Hudnall Planetarium
Ken Lambdin "Measuring the Universe"

For more information visit the Hudnall Planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu or call 903-510-2312.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] March Public Show

2009-03-02T11:19:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

HUDNALL PLANETARIUM PRESENTS "THE COWBOY ASTRONOMER"

This Saturday and Sunday, March 7th and 8th at 2:00 PM, Hudnall
Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "The Cowboy
Astronomer", a planetarium show that explores the stars from a cowboy's
point of view, narrated by cowboy humorist Baxter Black.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]Hudnall Celebrates The International Year of Astronomy

2009-02-19T15:44:00.000-06:00

HUDNALL PLANETARIUM CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY WITH
UNVEILING OF NEW MURAL-SIZED IMAGES FROM NASA'S GREAT OBSERVATORIES

Witness a spectacular event at February 21, 2009 at 7:00PM at the
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM when two new mural-sized images taken by NASA's
Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Chandra X-ray
Observatory will be unveiled to the public. The stunning photographs of
the well-known spiral galaxy Messier 101 commemorate the International
Year of Astronomy and will be unveiled by Tom Hooten, Director of
Hudnall Planetarium and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 celebrates the 400th
anniversary of Galileo first turning a telescope to the heavens. From
Galileo's first spyglass, telescopes have grown ever larger and ever
better, and have moved to mountaintops and to space. NASA's Great
Observatories represent the achievements of astronomy four centuries
later and are honoring this legacy with a national image unveiling.
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM was selected to present these incredible images to
the people of East Texas.

One 6-foot-by-3-foot image shows three striking full-color images that
showcase the galaxy's features in the infrared light observed by
Spitzer, the visible light observed by Hubble, and the X-ray light
observed by Chandra. The images show not only the details of the grand
design spiral structure for which the galaxy is famous, but also the
underlying giant clouds where stars are born, as well as the hidden
locations of black holes and exploded stars. These multi-wavelength
views provide both stunning beauty and a wealth of scientific
information not even dreamed of by Galileo.

Another 3-foot-by-3-foot image of Messier 101 combines the views from
all three telescopes into an amazing composite. It's like seeing with
your eyes, night vision goggles, and X-ray vision all at once!
Additional information about the Hubble Space Telescope is available at
http://hubblesite.org/. Additional information about the Spitzer Space
Telescope is available at http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/. Additional
information about the Chandra X-ray Observatory is available at
http://chandra.harvard.edu.
Hudnall Planetarium is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College
main campus near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street in
Tyler, Texas. Free parking is available. For more information contact
Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] February Public Show

2009-02-10T09:53:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"THE PLANETS"

PUBLIC SHOW PREMIER
AT
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

This Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public premier
presentation of "The Planets". Hudnall Planetarium's newest
production features an exciting tour of the Solar System that looks at
each planet as well as Solar System formation and extra-solar planets.
"The Planets" is narrated by Kate Mulgrew of "Star Trek:
Voyager".

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP]January PALS

2009-01-26T10:18:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior
College & Hudnall Planetarium

present the

Spring 2009

Public Astronomy Lecture Series

Speaker: Tom Hooten, NASA/JPL Ambassador, Director Hudnall
Planetarium
Topic: "The Astronomy Top 10 in 2009"
Date/Time: Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 7:00PM
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center on the TJC Main
Campus

The next PALS event will be held at the TJC Main Campus in Rogers
Student Center, Apache Room 4 on Saturday, January 31, 2009, beginning
at 7:00 PM. The lecture will be given by Tom Hooten on the topic of
"The Astronomy Top 10 in 2008". Tom Hooten is the Director of
Hudnall Planetarium and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour
before each lecture. Admission is $3.00 per person. This month's
lecture will be held in Apache Room 4 of the Roger's Student Center on
the TJC main campus. Hudnall Planetarium is located in the heart of the
Tyler Junior College main campus near the intersection of Mahon Avenue
and Lake Street. Free parking is available.

Dates, topics and speakers for future 2009 PALS events are listed
below.

Date Location
Speaker
Feb 21
7:00PM Hudnall Planetarium
Tom Hooten

"The New Hubble Space Telescope Image Unveiling"
Mar 28
7:00PM Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center
TBA

Apr 25
7:00PM Hudnall Planetarium
Ken Allen Lambdin

"Measuring the Universe"

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or
attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any
action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in
error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system
and destroy any copies.

[FOTHP] January Public Show

2009-01-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"LARRY, CAT IN SPACE"
AT
HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

This Saturday and Sunday, January 17 & 18 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of
"Larry, Cat in Space". This children's show joins Larry Cat as he
tells the story of how he came to live with his owner, Diana, on the
first science outpost on the moon. Children will enjoy this cat's eye
view of the world, astronomy, and the moon.

Admission costs to "Larry, Cat in Space" are $3.00 per person.
Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No
seating is allowed after the show begins. For more information about
the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium
website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall planetarium is located
on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of
Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

Attention: The information contained in this message and/or attachments
is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and
may contain confidential and/or nonpublic material. Any review,
retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action
in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the
intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please
contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy
any copies.

[FOTHP] Mercury MESSENGER

2008-01-11T16:11:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Three Days to Mercury!

The MESSENGER spacecraft is scheduled to fly by Mercury soon. The
countdown to the first flyby of Mercury by the MESSENGER spacecraft has
begun. Sunday morning, MESSENGER will start recording the evidence of
this historic event. At 8 a.m. EST on January 13 - 30 hours before the
closest approach to Mercury - the spacecraft will turn its main antennas
away from Earth and automatically begin executing the 5,000 on-board
stored commands.

"The entire instrumentation suite will be operating during this
flyby, taking more than 1,200 images and gathering other scientific
observations, filling the on-board data recorder with more than 700
megabytes of history-making measurements, within a period of 55
hours," said MESSENGER Systems Engineer Eric Finnegan of the Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md.
"Fifty minutes prior to closet approach, signals from the
spacecraft will go quiet as MESSENGER passes behind Mercury, out of
Earth's view. Forty-eight minutes later, engineers and scientists on
the ground will attempt to witness the gravitational pull of the planet
first-hand by re-acquiring the transmitted signal from the spacecraft
within minutes of the closet approach point."

On Tuesday, January 15, at noon EST, 22 hours after the flyby,
MESSENGER will take one last look at Mercury before turning back to
Earth to start returning the treasures stored on-board. "Complicating
this sequence of events is the demanding requirement to conduct all
observations by the spacecraft behind the safety of MESSENGER's
sunshade," Finnegan said. "Conducting this encounter at 30 million
miles from the Sun, almost two-thirds closer than the Earth, would have
been impossible in the era of Mariner 10. But thanks to advances in
material sciences, MESSENGER's electronics and sensitive instruments
can run at room temperature behind the sunshade, while the front surface
temperature rises to more than 600° F."

Notwithstanding the operational and scientific importance of this
flyby, MESSENGER is only slightly more than halfway along its
six-and-one-half year, 4.9 billion-mile journey between its launch in
August 2004 and orbit insertion around Mercury in March 2011. "Over
the next 12-month period, the MESSENGER team will engage in the most
grueling year of operations since launch, executing two planetary
encounters, two deep space maneuvers, and possibly six additional
maneuvers - using the smaller thrusters of the on-board propulsion
system - to keep the spacecraft on course," added Finnegan.

The primary goal of this flyby is to obtain a gravity assist from the
planet, which will reduce the arrival velocity of the spacecraft for
orbit insertion in March 2011. "Slowing the spacecraft by 5,000 miles
per hour, MESSENGER's orbital period around the Sun will be decreased
by 11 days, thus setting up a planetary car race with Mercury,"
Finnegan said. "Using its internal engine and future gravity assists,
the spacecraft, after being lapped by Mercury many times in this race
around the Sun, will ultimately match the 88-day orbital period of the
innermost planet."

To facilitate this change in velocity, the spacecraft will speed over
the uncharted surface of Mercury at a relative velocity of more than
16,000 miles per hour and pass within 124 miles of the surface, the
closest any man-made object has been to this planet. During this close
approach, the spacecraft will experience a period of 14 minutes without
solar power, where operations will rely only on the spacecraft's
internal batteries.

Don't miss Hudnall Planetarium's public presentation, "Larry, Cat in
Space" on Saturday and Sunday, January 12 and 13 at 2:00 p.m. Admission
costs to "Larry, Cat in Space" are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for
students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour
before each showing. No seating is allowed after the show begins. For
more information about the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or
visit the planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Hudnall
planetarium is located on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near
the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

[FOTHP]January Public Show

2008-01-09T09:39:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"LARRY, CAT IN SPACE" AT HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

This Saturday and Sunday, January 12 & 13 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior
College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of
"Larry, Cat in Space". This children's show joins Larry Cat as he
tells the story of how he came to live with his owner, Diana, on the
first science outpost on the moon. Children will enjoy this cat's eye
view of the world, astronomy, and the moon.

Admission costs to "Larry, Cat in Space" are $3.00 for adults and
$2.00 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door
one-half hour before each showing. No seating is allowed after the show
begins. For more information about the Hudnall Planetarium call
903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Hudnall planetarium is located on the
main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon
Avenue and Lake Street.

[FOTHP]"Star of the Magi"

2007-11-26T14:14:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior
College & Hudnall Planetarium

present
A
Christmas Experience

"Star of the Magi"

Date/Time: Friday, November 30, 2007 7:00 p.m.
Sat./Sun. December 1/2, 2007 2:00 p.m.
Sat./Sun. December 8/9, 2007 2:00 p.m.
Sat./Sun. December 15/16, 2007 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 15, 2007 7:00 p.m.
Private showings available upon request.

Where: Hudnall Planetarium on the TJC Main Campus

Hudnall Planetarium presents the premier of their Christmas show, Star
of the Magi on Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Additional public
showings will be presented on Saturday and Sunday, December 1st and 2nd
at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, December 8th and 9th at 2:00 p.m.;
and Saturday and Sunday, December 15th and 16th at 2:00 p.m. An
additional evening showing will be presented on Saturday, December 15th
at 7:00 p.m.

Seating is limited and doors will open one-half hour before each show.
Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No
seating is allowed after the show begins. Admission is $3.00 for
adults and $2.00 for students and senior citizens. Hudnall Planetarium
is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College main campus near the
intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street. Free parking is
available.

For more information or to arrange a special showing contact the
planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at
http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

[FOTHP]Nov Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2007-11-14T10:59:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior
College & Hudnall Planetarium

Present the Fall 2007
Public
Astronomy Lecture Series

Speaker: Tom Hooten, NASA/JPL Ambassador, Director Hudnall
Planetarium
Topic: "Astronomy in the News"
Date/Time: Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 7:00 PM
Where: Hudnall Planetarium

The next lecture of the series will be held at the Hudnall Planetarium
on Saturday, November 17, 2007 beginning at 7:00 PM. The presentation
will be given by Tom Hooten on the topic of "Astronomy in the News."
Tom Hooten is the Director of Hudnall Planetarium and a NASA/JPL Solar
System Ambassador.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or
visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

[FOTHP] Nov Public Show

2007-11-07T09:15:00.000-06:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

"MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE"
AT HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

This Saturday and Sunday, November 10 & 11 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "More Than Meets The Eye", a planetarium show that describes the joys of night sky observing using the unaided eye, binoculars, and small telescopes. "More Than Meets The Eye" is the perfect show if you consider yourself a stargazer. Constellations, planets, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies all appear differently depending upon if you view with the unaided eye, or with binoculars, or with a telescope. This show proves that backyard astronomy can be enjoyable and simple. You will quickly discover that there is a lot more to the night sky than meets the eye.

Admission costs to "More Than Meets The Eye" are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No seating is allowed after the show begins. For more information about the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Hudnall Planetarium is located on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

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[FOTHP] Want to See an Exploding Comet?

2007-11-01T15:09:00.000-05:00

Want to See An Exploding Comet?

Comet Holmes is a periodic comet that was discovered way back in 1892 by astronomer Edwin Holmes. Since its discovery, the comet has been making regular trips around the Sun, taking a bit under 7 years to make one complete orbit. As far as comets go, Holmes is nothing special. It has been around for a while, has been well studied, and has never been considered a bright or interesting celestial object.

But something spectacular happened just a few days ago. Comet Holmes exploded! Well, maybe not a literal explosion, but something happened to cause Holmes to brighten dramatically over a short period of time. Within a few days, Comet Holmes brightened from magnitude 17 to about magnitude 2. The magnitude scale is set up so brighter objects have smaller magnitudes. Brightening by 15 magnitudes means the comet's light intensity increased by a factor of over one million. That's the equivalent of the moon suddenly becoming much brighter than the Sun. Sounds almost like an explosion, doesn't it? However, unlike stars, comets do not produce their own light; instead, comets reflect light. The brightening of Comet Holmes must be caused by the comet physically expanding and reflecting more light from the Sun. Before the brightening you would have needed a good telescope to spot the comet, but now Comet Holmes is visible to the unaided eye.

Observations have confirmed that the brightening of Comet Holmes has been accompanied by an expansion of gasses surrounding the comet's nucleus, and we are not talking about a small bit of expansion here. According to the folks at SpaceWeather.com, the comet's physical diameter is seven times wider than the planet Jupiter--and it is still expanding. Explosive releases of gasses, known as outgassing, have been suspected on comets for a long time, but no one has actually seen one occur before. It is very likely that explosive outgassing caused the expansion of the comet and the subsequent brightening, but so far no astronomers are willing to commit to that as the best possible explanation. Whatever caused the expansion is still a mystery at this point.

If you would like to catch a glimpse of Comet Holmes then act quickly. No telling how much longer the brightening will last. It is currently in the constellation Perseus and will remain there until the end of the year. If the weather permits, go outside after sunset and look to the northeast. To the unaided eye the comet will appear as a star. With a pair of binoculars or a small telescope you might be able to make out the expanding gas around the nucleus. A finder chart and more recent updates about Comet Holmes can be found all over the web, including at the Hudnall Planetarium website (http://planetarium.tjc.edu). One of the best sites for recent updates is the Sky & Telescope website at http://skyandtelescope.com

This is an exciting time for a not so little comet.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT HUDNALL PLANETARIUM
Nov 10 & 11 at 2:00 pm, "More Than Meets the Eye"
Nov 17 at 7:00pm, Public Astronomy Lecture Series
Nov 30 & Dec 15 at 7:00pm, "Star of the Magi"
Dec 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 2:00pm, "Star of the Magi"

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[FOTHP]Oct. PALS

2007-10-17T09:49:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior College & Hudnall Planetarium
present the
Fall 2007
Public Astronomy Lecture Series

Speaker: Marsha Layton
Topic: "The Geology of Mars"
Date/Time: Saturday, October 20, 2007
Where: Apache Room 4, Rogers Student Center on TJC Main Campus

The Public Astronomy Lecture Series (PALS) is an astronomical outreach program of Hudnall Planetarium intended to keep the public informed of recent news, events and discoveries related to astronomy and space science. The series consists of monthly programs presented by instructors, experts, and other academic and scientific professionals. Each lecture is open to the public.

The next lecture of the series will be held at the TJC Main Campus in Rogers Student Center, Apache Room 4 on Saturday, October 20, 2007, beginning at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be given by Marsha Layton on the topic of "The Geology of Mars". Marsha Layton is a geology instructor at Tyler Junior College.

Seating for each lecture is limited, and doors will open one-half hour before each lecture. Advance tickets may be purchased at the TJC Cashier's Office in the White Administrative Services Building on the TJC Main Campus. Admission is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students and senior adults. Hudnall Planetarium is located in the heart of the Tyler Junior College main campus near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street. Free parking is available.

Dates, topics and speakers for future 2007 PALS events are listed below.

Date Location Speaker
Nov 17 Hudnall Planetarium Tom Hooten, Director of Hudnall Planetarium/NASA/JPL Ambassador
Nov 30 Hudnall Planetarium "Star of the Magi"
Season Premier

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu

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[FOTHP]Oct. Public Show

2007-10-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium

"MARS: 4TH WORLD" AT HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

On Saturday and Sunday, October 13 & 14 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "Mars: 4th World", an original planetarium show from the Hudnall Planetarium. It has been called many names throughout the ages, but we call it Mars. This show is all about Mars and how it has influenced our culture and our science. Is there life on Mars? Will humans one day live on this fourth world? Explore all the possibilities in this original production from the Hudnall Planetarium.

Admission costs to "Mars: 4th World" are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No seating is allowed after the show begins. For more information about the Hudnall Planetarium call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Hudnall planetarium is located on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

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[FOTHP]Sept Public Astronomy Lecture Series

2007-09-17T08:31:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Tyler Junior College & Hudnall Planetarium
present the
Fall 2007
Public Astronomy Lecture Series & Star Party

Speaker: Justin Parrish
Topic: "The Bright Side of Dark Matter"
Date/Time: Saturday, September 22, 2007
Where: Apache Room 2, Rogers Student Center on TJC Main Campus

The Public Astronomy Lecture Series (PALS) is an astronomical outreach program of Hudnall Planetarium intended to keep the public informed of recent news, events and discoveries related to astronomy and space science. The series consists of monthly programs presented by instructors, experts, and other academic and scientific professionals. Each lecture is open to the public.

The next lecture of the series will be held at the TJC Main Campus in Rogers Student Center, Apache Room 2 on Saturday, September 22, 2007, beginning at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be given by Justin Parrish on the topic of "The Bright Side of Dark Matter". Justin Parrish is the former president of the Astronomical Society of East Texas. The lecture will take a look into techniques used to find matter that we cannot see.

Following the lecture, as weather permits, the Astronomical Society of East Texas will host a Star Party for naked-eye and telescopic viewing of the night-time sky. Large and small telescopes will be on hand for viewing the moon, planets, and interesting sky objects. Astronomical Society members will also be available for questions and discussions concerning telescopes, constellations, and celestial happenings.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu

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Hudnall Planetarium Newletter

2007-09-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

To See the Wanderers, Follow the Moon

Have you ever seen the wanderers? The wanderers look just like stars, but they're very different. The wanderers are easy to spot with your unaided eye, and, if you watch them over the course of a few weeks or months, they hold true to their name. They appear to wander around erratically in the sky staggering through the constellations, sometimes backing up as if in a drunken stupor, and then lazily lumbering forward again. They are very odd things, these wanderers. This meandering behavior of the wanderers led ancient skywatchers to ascribe mystical powers to them. The ancient Greeks even named each of the wanderers after their gods: Zeus, Kronos, Aphrodite, Hermes, and Ares. But today we call them by their Roman names: Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, and Mars. That's right; the wanderers are actually the planets. In fact, the word planet is Greek for wanderer.

So, have you ever seen the planets? If you haven't, then it's time to fix that experiential gap. But where do you look? You see, that's the problem. Since the planets look just like stars to the unaided eye, how can you tell if you're looking at a star or a planet? Well, now you have a solution. Over the course of the next month you have the opportunity to easily spot four of the five brightest planets by following the Moon.

Start on September 17 when the Sun is below the horizon and it is just beginning to get dark. You should be able to easily spot the crescent Moon low in the southwest. Now look just above and a bit left of the Moon. That bright star is actually the planet Jupiter. Be careful. Antares is another bright star in the area, but it is dimmer and has a reddish appearance. It is also closer to the Moon than Jupiter. With a pair of binoculars or a small telescope, you might be able to see bands across Jupiter's face and possibly spot one or more of Jupiter's bright moons.

Next on the morning of October 2 go outside and look up high in the south. Around 6:00am you should see the Moon at approximately the third quarter phase. This time face south and look to the face of the Moon. That reddish looking star is the planet Mars. With a pair of binoculars, you should be able to see that Mars is not a point of light like a star, but the sight is not very impressive because Mars will appear tiny.

Then on the morning of October 7 you can see two more planets. Go outside around 6:00am, but this time look east. There on either side of the waning crescent Moon are the planets Saturn and Venus. Venus will be the bright one above the Moon. Saturn will be dimmer, but will be the star closest to the Moon between the eastern horizon. With your binoculars, you may be able to see the rings of Saturn. If you turn your binoculars toward Venus, you might be able to see the phase of Venus.

That's it for the wanderers. Now go out and enjoy your universe.

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[FOTHP] Upcoming Scheduled Events

2007-08-31T10:47:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events at the Hudnall Planetarium!

PUBLIC ASTRONOMY LECTURE SERIES & STAR PARTY*

September 22 Public Astronomy Lecture Justin Parrish Apache Rm 4, 7:00pm
"The Bright Side of Dark Matter"
October 20 Public Astronomy Lecture TBA Apache Rm 4, 7:00pm

November 17 Public Astronomy Lecture TBA Hudnall Planetarium, 7:00pm

*Star parties follow each lecture, weather permitting. Star parties are sponsored by the Astronomical Society of East Texas. If you want to learn more about ASET and amateur astronomy, then check out http://aset.tamu.edu/

PUBLIC PLANETARIUM SHOWS

Sept 8, 9 "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket" 2:00pm

Oct 10, 11 "Mars 4th World" 2:00pm

Nov 10, 11 "More Than Meets The Eye" 2:00pm

Nov 30 "Star of the Magi" 7:00pm

Dec 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 "Star of the Magi" 2:00pm

Dec 15 "Star of the Magi" 7:00pm

For information about current events in the astronomy world be sure to tune in to see Hudnall Planetarium's Director, Tom Hooten, make an appearance on KETK 56 (Suddenlink Cable Channel 10) East Texas Live on September 7, October 12, November 9, and December 7 at 11:00am.

For more information contact Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

Hope to see you there!

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[FOTHP] Lunar Eclipse Aug 28th

2007-08-27T08:36:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Total Lunar Eclipse, August 28, 2007
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the Moon will undergo a total lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs whenever the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up with the Earth in the middle. Under such an alignment, the Sun's light is blocked by the Earth, casting a shadow across the Moon's face, turning it a dramatic blood-red shade.
If the weather cooperates, you should be able to see the eclipse beginning at 3:51 am. The eclipse will last about three and one-half hours, ending at 7:24 am. Mid-eclipse, when the moon is the darkest, will occur at 5:37 am. The moon will be high in the southwestern sky at the beginning of the eclipse and will sink closer to the western horizon as the eclipse progresses. The moon will actually set at about 7:00 am, which is before the last part of the eclipse is over.
Lunar eclipses occur only during Full Moon and when the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. The Earth's shadow is composed of two parts -- the umbra and the penumbra. The two parts of the Earth's shadow form long cones pointed away from the Earth, and are nested inside one another. The outer shadow is the penumbral cone, where the Earth blocks only part of the Sun's light. The inner shadow is the umbral cone, and is the darkest region where the Earth blocks all the Sun's light. When the Moon is completely inside the inner umbral cone, totality will occur. During this time, the Moon will not be completely black but may appear a deep red color. The reddish color comes from sunlight that is bent around the Earth by the refractive properties of the atmosphere. In a sense, the Earth's atmosphere behaves like a big lens, bending some of the Sun's light around the planet. Red light is refracted more than other colors of sunlight, so the red light strikes the Moon, creating the blood-red Moon.
The Moon is still in the penumbral shadow of the Earth about an hour before and an hour after totality. But the penumbral part of the Earth's shadow is faint and you will not notice the Moon being darkened unless you observe it with sensitive light measuring equipment.
If the weather does not cooperate or if you just can't force yourself to get up early on Tuesday morning, your next opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse will be February 21, 2008. Get out and enjoy your universe!

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[FOTHP] The Perseid Meteor Shower

2007-08-08T11:58:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

The Perseid Meteor Shower: Of Comets and Meteors

This coming Sunday night and early Monday morning, August 12-13, 2007,
marks the peak of one of the most reliable meteor showers known * the
Perseids. The shower is named after the constellation Perseus from
which the meteors appear to radiate. Estimates are that the Perseids
should produce anywhere from 60 to 100 meteors per hour. Whether the
meteors are observable will depend upon your local weather and lighting
conditions. Meteors are best observed away from city lights under dark
skies. The moon is new and will not brighten the sky, making this an
excellent year to observe the shower. While the shower's peak is
early in the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning, observers should be able
to spot a few meteor streaks as early as late Saturday night. Look to
the northeast starting after 9:00 PM, and then be patient. You should
see one every few minutes. No special equipment is necessary, except
maybe a comfortable chair and mosquito spray. The next night, as Sunday
turns into Monday morning, the number of meteors observable should
increase.

So what makes a meteor shower? To understand this you first need to
know a bit about comets. Comets, which can be thought of as giant muddy
icebergs, orbit the Sun just like the planets, asteroids, and dwarf
planets. However, unlike most members of the solar system, comets tend
to obit the Sun in very elongated elliptical orbits. As these muddy
icebergs move close to the Sun they lose part of their dirty mass along
the way. Loosened grains of dust and gas escape the comet and spread
out along in the same general orbit as the comet. Technically speaking,
these freed dust particles are now called meteoroids.

One particular comet, Swift-Tuttle, passes very near the orbit of the
earth leaving behind tiny bits of itself all along the path. Then, once
per year, as the Earth passes through the dusty trail, the left-behind
meteoroids slam into the Earth. Relative to the Earth, these meteoroids
are moving at incredible speeds, on the order of 140,000 miles per hour.
Anything traveling at these speeds, even tiny dust particles, will
release a lot of energy when they hit something, even if the something
they hit is as soft as the Earth's atmosphere. From the point of view
of an Earth-bound observer, the impact of meteoroids on the atmosphere
leaves behind bright streaks as the surrounding air heats up and the
particles disintegrate. Again, technically speaker, the bright streaks
are called meteors. Because the stream of meteoroid particles all hit
the atmosphere in roughly the same spot each year, it can appear as if
the meteors are radiating from one point in the sky * in this case the
constellation Perseus.

Enjoy your universe. Get out and observe the Perseids this year.

[FOTHP]May Public Shows-CANCELLED

2007-05-14T08:28:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

Due to construction on the Tyler Junior College campus, the May 19th and 20th public shows at the Hudnall Planetarium have been cancelled. Public shows will resume in the fall. Please check our website, http://planetarium.tjc.edu

for a schedule of upcoming events.

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[FOTHP] Public Show, Aug. 12 & 13, "More Than Meets The Eye"

2006-08-07T15:34:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

This Saturday and Sunday, August 12 & 13 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "More Than Meets The Eye", a planetarium show That describes the joys of night sky observing using the unaided eye, binoculars, and small telescopes. "More Than Meets The Eye" is the perfect show if you consider yourself a stargazer. Constellations, planets, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies all appear differently depending upon if you view with the unaided eye, or with binoculars, or with a telescope. This show proves that backyard astronomy can be enjoyable and simple. You will quickly discover that there is a lot more to the night sky than meets the eye.

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[FOTHP] Public Show, July 8 & 9, "More Than Meets The Eye"

2006-07-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

This Saturday & Sunday, July 8 & 9 at 2:00 pm, Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "More Than Meets the Eye", a planetarium show that describes the joys of night sky observing using the unaided eye, binoculars, and small telescopes.

"More Than Meets the Eye" is the perfect show if you consider yourself a stargazer. Constellations, planets, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies all appear differently depending upon if you view with the unaided eye, or with binoculars, or with a telescope. This show proves that backyard astronomy can be enjoyable and simple. You will quickly discover that there is a lot more to the night sky than meets the eye.

Admission costs to "More Than Meets the Eye" are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door one-half hour before each showing. No seating is allowed after the show begins. For more information about the Hudnall Planetarium, call 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu. Hudnall Planetarium is located on the main campus of Tyler Junior College near the intersection of Mahon Avenue and Lake Street.

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[FOTHP] Teacher's Workshop

2006-06-13T14:55:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

If you are a teacher for K-8 grades, then we want to make you aware of our Teacher Workshop at the Hudnall Planetarium. The six-hour Astronomy Workshop will take place at Hudnall Planetarium on the TJC main campus on June 30, 2006 beginning at 8:00 am. The workshop will involve TEKS-aligned, inquiry-based activities designed to teach astronomy concepts. Emphasis will be on practical exercises, activities, demonstrations and resources that educators can incorporate directly into their classrooms. Topics include: Patterns & Cycles in the Nighttime sky, Earth's Seasons, Characteristics of the Sun, The Lunar and Moon Cycles, and The Solar System. This workshop is presented through the Region 7 Educational Service Center and qualifies as professional development.

You can register for the workshop through the ESC Region 7 website at: http://www.esc7.net .

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[FOTHP] Planetary Conjunction Update

2006-06-13T12:26:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

These days a lot of us are too busy to look up and enjoy the beauty of the heavens above. We don't realize that there are star-like objects that wander about somewhat erratically over our heads among the real stars. The ancient Greeks knew about them and called them wanderers. Today we call them "planets" which is Greek for "wanderer."

This week we have the opportunity to easily view several planets in the nighttime sky.

In the western sky at dusk, just when it is beginning to get dark, you can see a planetary conjunction. A conjunction is a gathering of celestial objects in the same part of the sky. In this case, the planet Saturn and Mars appear near each other. I say "appear" because Saturn and Mars are actually very far apart, more than 700 million miles. Nevertheless, the appearance of Saturn and Mars together is a beautiful sight.

What makes this planetary conjunction more beautiful is what lies nearby. You can't see it with your unaided eye, but with a pair of binoculars you can easily see the Beehive Cluster nearby. This is an Open Cluster of young stars that is very far away, and on June 15th Mars passes in front of the cluster. On June 17th Mars and Jupiter will be only half a degree (about the diameter of the full moon) apart. After the 17th, the planets will move farther apart and appear lower in the sky each night until they disappear in the glow of the sun.

After you've enjoyed Saturn, Mars, and the Beehive, turn your head to the left and look in the southern sky. You can see Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet, as a bright star-like object high in the south. If you use your pair of binoculars on Jupiter, you can see one of more of the four largest moons of Jupiter-the Galilean satellites.

Upcoming events at the planetarium
June 30, 8:00am-4:00pm, Workshop for K-8 Science Teachers
July 8 & 9, 2:00pm, "More Than Meets the Eye" planetarium show

For more information, contact the Hudnall Planetarium at 903-510-2312 or visit the planetarium website at http://planetarium.tjc.edu.

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[FOTHP] Public Show, June 10 & 11, "More Than Meets The Eye"

2006-06-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

Friends of the Hudnall Planetarium,

This Saturday & Sunday, June 10 & 11 at 2:00 pm, Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "More Than Meets the Eye", a planetarium show that describes the joys of night sky observing using the unaided eye, binoculars, and small telescopes.

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Upcoming Events at Hudnall Planetarium

2006-03-29T13:24:00.000-06:00

08-09 Apr 2006, 2:00 PM Cowboy Astronomer

28 Apr 2006, 7:00 PM Public Astronomy Lecture Series: "More Than Meets The Eye"

MARS AT HUDNALL PLANETARIUM

2006-03-06T16:16:00.000-06:00

If all goes well on March 10, 2006, the latest NASA mission to Mars, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, will achieve orbital insertion around the Red Planet. In recognition of that achievement, the followings Saturday and Sunday, March 11 & 12 at 2:00 PM, Tyler Junior College's Hudnall Planetarium will feature the public presentation of "Mars: 4th World", a planetarium show about the planet Mars, including its history and its influences on culture.

"Mars: 4th World" is an original production of Hudnall Planetarium and is suitable for all ages. Tom Hooten, director of planetarium, said, "The show begins with early superstitions surrounding Mars but quickly turns to modern exploration. Along the way we learn many interesting facts about the planet."

PUT YOUR NAME ON PLUTO

2005-09-06T16:34:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since an update, but here's some fun info I just received from NASA. You can put your name on Pluto...literally...well almost literally. Actually you can put it past Pluto. Read on for details...

You've sent your name to Mars on NASA's Mars Polar Lander and on the JPL spacecraft that crashed into Comet Temple 1 on July 4th (well you should have) !

Now here is your chance to send your name past Pluto, through Kuiper Belt, and out of the solar system. Perhaps to be discovered by an alien interstellar traveler.

Check out the mission and put your name on a compact disc that will fly on the New Horizons' mission.

Don't wait, the deadline is September 15th.

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/

Enjoy,
Tom

Tom Hooten
Instructor, Physics & Engineering
Director, Hudnall Planetarium
Tyler Junior College
P. O. Box 9020
Tyler, TX 75711-9020
903.510.2887
thoo@tjc.edu
http://physics.tjc.edu
http://planetarium.tjc.edu

So Why A Blog?

2005-01-11T20:46:00.000-06:00

It seemed so obvious at the time. Blogs are all the fashion. So why shouldn't we take advantage of one of the most fashionable Internet fads and use it for a good and noble purpose, like ranting, raving, and informing.

Now that's the reason I'm going to tell the administrators, but the real reason is that I'm a closet writer. I've written a few things here and there, even published a few stories (both fiction and nonfiction), but I've always wanted to do a little, weekly newspaper column about something I'm very passionate about -- astronomy. This blog is the outlet for that dream. But I realize my writin' ain't that great, so I wanted others to share in my embarrassment; thus, I have invited the whole Hudnall Crew to be contributors to this blogging adventure. I figure if I can con them into contributing too it might lessen my personal shame. Secretly I'm hoping you might mistake my bad writing for actually being someone elses. Oh, if only I could rely upon that false hope!

Anyway, this is an excellent week to begin such an astronomy blog because there are so many interesting astronomy happenings that this entry almost writes itself. Just check this out....

1. Beginning Friday, 14 Jan 2005 the Huygens probe will begin its descent into the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. Will it be a splashdown, a crashdown, or a failure? Who knows! But I'm going to be watching the Science Channel on Friday evening to find out which. I hope you will be watching too.

2. Deep Impact is scheduled to launch very soon. The current launch is scheduled for tomorrow, 12 Jan 2005 at 1:something (Eastern Time) in the afternoon. Watch the news because they'll be talking about this one. The Deep Impact mission is currently scheduled to literally blast a hole in Comet Temple 1 on July 4th 2005. It's gonna be cool!

3. If you wanna see a comet you don't have to wait until the fireworks occur on the Fourth of July, you can just go outside and look up. Literally! Comet Machholz is very close to the Pleiades in Taurus. If you go outside at about 9:00 PM Tyler Time, you'll spot the Pleiades almost straight overhead. You can't miss it, because it looks like a tiny little, Little Dipper. It's actually an association of young stars, but that's another blog. Comet Machholz will be just north of the Pleiades, and as January progresses, Machholz will move farther north into Perseus. If you live in the city you might want to use a pair of binoculars, but if you can get away from the city lights, you should be able to spot it with only your naked eye. Go find it now, because the moon will start to interfere with the sky brightness soon. As the sky brightens due to the moon's presence, the comet appears relatively dimmer and becomes harder to spot. So go now!

There's lots more I could mention, but I'll save it for a later time. Until then keep looking up!
Peace,
Tom Hooten
Director, Hudnall Planetarium