Upcoming Events
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New Student Registration Day05/30/13 @ 9:00am - Check-In at the Kimmel Theater LobbyThis day is meant to ease your transition into college and to get to know some key individuals on campus that will contribute to your success at Midland. Most importantly, you will meet with your adviser one-on-one to select your classes for the fall semester. Your parents are encouraged to attend, as there will be information sessions for them as well. Here is an overview of the rest of the day: 8:30-9:00 am Check-In 9:00 am Kick off & welcome 9:30-12:00 pm Advising, Financial Aid, Technology Training, Housing, Student Services & Much More! 12:00-1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Wrap up If you have any questions about NSR Days, need to reschedule, or need further information, please call the Office of Admissions at 402-941-6503 or log onto www.MidlandU.edu/RegistrationDays.
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New Student Registration Day06/05/13 @ 9:00am - Check-In at the Kimmel Theater LobbyThis day is meant to ease your transition into college and to get to know some key individuals on campus that will contribute to your success at Midland. Most importantly, you will meet with your adviser one-on-one to select your classes for the fall semester. Your parents are encouraged to attend, as there will be information sessions for them as well. Here is an overview of the rest of the day: 8:30-9:00 am Check-In 9:00 am Kick off & welcome 9:30-12:00 pm Advising, Financial Aid, Technology Training, Housing, Student Services & Much More! 12:00-1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Wrap up If you have any questions about NSR Days, need to reschedule, or need further information, please call the Office of Admissions at 402-941-6503 or log onto www.MidlandU.edu/RegistrationDays.
Planetarium
Lueninghoener Planetarium
Midland University
Astronomy Related Events for 2013
Sources: seasky.org; astropixels.com; Astronomy 2013 calendar
Times are Central Standard or Central Daylight
May 1 May Day (halfway between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice); 17 First Quarter Moon ; 22 – 30 Venus, Mercury, Jupiter in evening sky near horizon; 24 Venus Mercury conjunction; 26 Mercury Jupiter conjunction; 28 Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter (1 degree apart) in evening sky, Mercury also visible in early evening sky; Venus will be in the evening sky for the rest of 2013 but is best visible after September.
June 12 Mercury visible in early evening near west horizon; 16 First Quarter Moon ; 21 Summer Solstice 12:04 A.M. Longest amount of daylight of the year for Northern Hemisphere; 23 Full Moon (Moon is near perigee so it will appear larger in the sky.)
July 15 First Quarter Moon
August 12,13 Perseids Meteor Shower…up to 50 meteors per hour. Observe after midnight.; 14 First Quarter Moon
September 8 Venus near Crescent Moon; 12 First Quarter Moon ; 22 September Equinox 3:44 P.M. Sun on the Celestial Equator
October 9 Mercury visible on western horizon after sunset.; 11 First Quarter Moon ; 12 Astronomy Day
November 1 Venus at largest angle east of Sun for 2013.; 3 End of Daylight Savings Time; 3 Solar Eclipse Central Africa A little over one minute of totality which is short compared to a typical eclipse.; 10 First Quarter Moon ; 17,18 Leonids Meteor Shower about 30 meteors/hour, but the Full Moon will interfere with viewing the meteors. ; Comet ISON visible this month?
December 6 Venus at greatest brightness for 2013; 9 First Quarter Moon ; 13, 14 Geminids Meteor Shower up to 50 meteors/hour but the Gibbous Moon will interfere with viewing.; 21 December Solstice 12:11 P.M. Shortest amount of daylight for the year. ; Comet ISON visible this month?
Sun Movie Link (Latest Movie of the Sun taken in Ultraviolet Light)
http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/aiahmi/latest.php?t=aia_0171&r=512
Astronomy Posters
Two astronomy posters are now on display in the West lobby of Swanson Hall, 8th and Irving Street. This lobby is next to the planetarium. The posters show images of the Pinwheel Galaxy, M101, made with three space telescopes, Hubble, Chandra, and Spitzer. The galaxy was imaged using visible light, x-ray light, and infrared light. There is a free handout that describes the posters to help you appreciate what you will be seeing. A striking poster of the center of our galaxy is on display in the middle of the first floor hallway in Swanson Hall. This image combines the light of the Hubble, Chandra, and Spitzer space telescopes to reveal new details of the stars, gas, and dust found at the center of our galaxy. Swanson Hall is usually open from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. Exceptions are Thanksgiving break and Christmas break.
Planetarium Programs
Groups are invited to contact Dr. Clements for a specially scheduled presentation. Available times are listed further down on this web page. There are no regularly scheduled public programs. The subject matter of the presentation will fit the needs of the group attending the presentation. Presentations can be given to Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Home School classes; Scout groups; and other groups up to 65 people.
The cost for a one-hour presentation for a group is $50. Please bring a check made payable to Midland University. Teachers are invited to contact me to schedule a planetarium trip for your class.
From September through May planetarium presentations may be scheduled during these times: Tuesday 11:30 A.M. to 1 P.M. ; Thursday 11:00 A.M. to 4 P.M.; Friday 12:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.; Saturday morning 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. I am not available on all Saturdays. I may have special meetings that prevent me from scheduling programs on particular dates. From late November through December the Star of Bethlehem program will be available in addition to general astronomy programs.
During June, July, and August it is possible to schedule a planetarium presentation but I may not be available for certain days and certain weeks due to travel plans.
There is limited availability for planetarium programs in January.
Please send your request for a presentation to me via e-mail (clements@MidlandU.edu). Other contact information is listed at the bottom of this page.
Location
The planetarium is located on the Southwest corner of Swanson Hall of Science, 8th and Irving Street in Fremont. You should park west of Swanson Hall and enter the building through the west doors.
Map Link: Google Map For Lueninghoener Planetarium, Midland University
Star of Bethlehem Christmas Program
The Star of Behthlehem program will be given on the first two weekends of December 2013.
(The program lasts about 1 hour.)
The program is free to Midland faculty, staff, students, and their immediate families. For the public, the cost is $3 per person for those over 12, and $2 per person for ages 12 and under. Reservations are required for all who attend as seating is limited. Please send your reservation request by e-mail to clements@midlandu.edu or phone (402) 941-6353.
I am also willing to give the program to groups (e.g. Church group, community organization) in the evening of the week, or days or evenings on the weekend. The cost for a group program is $50. Your group does not need to pay in advance. Please bring a check made payable to Midland University when you come to the program. Up to 65 can be seated in the planetarium. Groups should contact me to arrange a date/time for the program.
Planetarium Staff
Dr. Gary Carlson retired at the end of May 2008. Dr. Greg Clements, a Midland University Professor for 29 years, has been named the new director of the planetarium and observatory. Dr. Clements has a doctorate in physics with classes and research in astronomy. He has been an amateur astronomer since the 1960's.
Planetarium/Observatory Overview History
The Lueninghoener Planetarium opened its doors in 1965. It was designed by Dr. Gilbert Lueninghoener. He began the tradition of solid science education based programs. This tradition continues today. Groups are able to request programs on a variety of topics. Also, current astronomical events are often featured within the programs. The planetarium is utilized by Midland University students, school groups, scouts, church groups, and the general public. Midland University appreciated the contribution of the Walter and Ruby Behlen family. Almost forty years of Midland Astronomy students have been able to use the Behlen Observatory. The Behlen Observatory/Telescopes are also available for use by community groups. On average, two times per year the Observatory/Telescopes are open to the public.
Related Activities
Besides the planetarium, there are other activities to do while on campus. Groups are encouraged to take advantage of the Glismann Rock and Mineral Collection located in the Swanson Hall of Science hallway just east of the planetarium. Also, weather permitting, the Midland University Heritage Arboretum has a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers. The majority of the specimens are labeled. More information on the arboretum can be obtained from Dr. Carlson (402) 941-6328 carlson@MidlandU.edu .
Observatory/Planetarium E-Mailing List
If you would like to receive announcements about events taking place in the sky, and events taking place at the Midland University observatory and planetarium, please send e-mail with your name to clements@MidlandU.edu. Please put “planetarium mailing list” in the subject line of the e-mail. You will receive about one e-mail each month. You can also check this web page ( www.midlandu.edu/planetarium ) periodically for this information. Your e-mail address will only be used for these astronomy announcements.
Contact Information
Dr. Greg Clements, Planetarium Director Telephone: (402) 941-6353 Email: clements@MidlandU.edu Office: 103 Swanson Hall of Science Mailing address: Dr. Greg Clements Midland University 900 North Clarkson St. Fremont, Nebraska 68025