December 15th 2008
Since Lambuth University is closing due to inclement weather, there will be no show tonight. I apologize to anyone who was greatly looking forward to the program—since it is seasonal, we won’t be showing “Season of Light” again until December 2009.
December 15th 2008
The perennially popular show “Season of Light” returns tonight (Monday, December 15) at 7:30 PM:
This holiday program explores the traditions of Christmas and other winter holidays, tying them with astronomy. Narrated by Noah Adams of NPR, this show has been a popular presentation at the M. D. Anderson Planetarium for many years.
The show begins at 7:30 PM, and costs $5 for adults, $3 for children 18 years and under, and $10 for a family of three or more. Lambuth students, staff, and faculty are admitted free with identification.
(The weather forecast indicates a chance of freezing rain tonight. If the weather does turn nasty, I will post a cancellation notice on this site. If you don’t see anything, assume the show is happening as scheduled!)
December 13th 2008
60-inch reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson
On December 13, 1908, the 60-inch reflecting telescope of the Mount Wilson Observatory was first tested. This telescope was the first of the large mirror-based (as opposed to lens-based, or refracting) telescopes to be built, and it’s no exaggeration to say it changed astronomy. Edwin Hubble later used this telescope to confirm that the “spiral nebulae” in the sky were actually separate galaxies, providing the first hint about the size of the universe. Hubble also found that the farther a galaxy is away from us, the faster it is moving away—the first measurement of the expansion of the universe.
December 11th 2008
I have just added a new page, Astronomy Links, which is designed to provide many different sources of information
about various areas of astronomy. I’m sure I have missed many useful
resources, so I’ll be updating this page in the future. In the
meantime, please visit, enjoy, and send comments!
December 11th 2008
The perennially popular show “Season of Light” returns on Monday, December 15 at 7:30 PM:
This holiday program explores the traditions of Christmas and other winter holidays, tying them with astronomy. Narrated by Noah Adams of NPR, this show has been a popular presentation at the M. D. Anderson Planetarium for many years.
The show begins at 7:30 PM, and costs $5 for adults, $3 for children 18 years and under, and $10 for a family of three or more. Lambuth students, staff, and faculty are admitted free with identification.