Randal Heckman, the brother-in-law of Twinstars (aka Harlan
Seyfer), owns an amateur observatory about four miles south of
Kearney. We’ll be viewing the sky from this location at the
coordinates given. There should also be a number of geocachers who
are amateur astronomers that will have their telescopes set up
expressly for their fellow cache hunters. So there should be quite
a bit to see.
It is a good idea to arrive shortly before sunset around 7:30
PM.
There is plenty of room to park; however, try to park with your
headlights pointed north and away from the observing area. When it
comes time to leave you’ll be headed in the right direction, and
your lights won’t blind the astronomers. See the accompanying photo
for the route to the observatory and the parking area.
Heckman Observatory is located in the middle of a section. Enter
from the north side of the section. There is no other way in.* When
turning south off the gravel road, take the “road” on the
east side of the fence (see photo). Keep on the “road” and
you should have no problem.
Fine print:
- If you bring bug spray, be sure to apply it away from the
telescopes; it damages optics.
- If you look at a map, it's probably wrong. Road 26 (26Rd)
doesn't exist through this section.
- There are no
restrooms available (apologies).
- The site is mostly flat and the grass mowed; given that, it is
handicap accessible.
- No cobbler allowed. It gums up the telescope works.
- If the sky is overcast, this event will be canceled for
somewhat obvious reasons.
* However, some geocachers — from force of habit — may choose to
bushwhack in. That being the case, the south route is the more
interesting, as there are a number of coyote dens in thick brush.
We may hear the pack howling after sunset, especially if there are
wayward cachers.
U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department
Sun and Moon Data for One Day
The following information is provided for Heckman Observatory,
Kearney County, Nebraska:
Friday, 12 September 2008, Central Daylight Time
SUN
Begin civil twilight 6:47 a.m.
Sunrise 7:15 a.m.
Sun transit 1:32 p.m.
Sunset 7:49 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:17 p.m. (After that time
it stops being civil and gets cranky.)
MOON
Moonrise 6:04 p.m. on preceding day
Moonset 4:11 a.m.
Moonrise 6:32 p.m.
Moon transit 11:50 p.m.
Moonset 5:18 a.m. on following day
Phase of the Moon on 12 September: waxing gibbous with 92% of the
Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Full Moon on 15 September 2008 at 4:14 a.m. Central Daylight
Time.
Image of Jupiter courtesy Astronomy Picture of the Day
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod, specifically: NASA, ESA, A.
Simon-Miller (Goddard Space Flight Center), I. de Pater, M. Wong
(UC Berkeley)
This event offered in conjunction with Kearney's "Fifth
Annual Geopicnic & Campfire" (GC1D47F)
Somewhat organized by proud Nebraskache Members