The Universe (Cosmic Apocalypse)

The next episode of the amazing series The Universe continues tonight. The new episode is called “Cosmic Apocalypse.” Here’s a preview…

The Universe as we know it is condemned to death. Space, matter and even time will one day cease to exist and there’s nothing we can do about it. Harsh realities are revealed about the future of our Universe; it may collapse and burn or it might be gripped by a galactic ice age. Either of these scenarios might be a long way off. However, our Universe could suddenly be destroyed by a “random quantum fluctuation”, a bubble of destruction that can obliterate the entire cosmos in the blink of an eye. No matter how it ends, life in our Universe is doomed.

Check local listings for the time of the show.

Veen Observatory Public Night - April 26

If the skies are clear Saturday night, the James C. Veen Observatory - located south of Lowell, MI - will be open for public tours and telescopic observations, weather permitting. Here are the particulars:

Time: 9.00pm - Midnight
Admission: $3 - Adults, $2 - kids 17 and under, under 5 free

If you are not sure whether we will be open or not, there are a couple of ways to check. First, you can call 616.897.7065 after 6.30pm where a recorded message will be updated with the latest information, or you can visit the club’s website, which will be updated at that time as well.

Full information on Public Nights can be found on the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association website - graaa.org. Just click on the Public Night link in the menu.

There you will find a map showing directions to the observatory, and a FAQ about visitors’ nights. On the main page of the site, click on the OPEN sign, and you will be taken to a page with particulars about the specific night detailing what objects will be featured through the telescopes.

The main feature will be the planet Saturn. Views through the telescope will show its rings, and several of its moons. Along with Saturn, we will show off some of the finest objects of deep space as well, including nebulas and star clusters. And who knows what else. The sky’s the limit.

If you go out to the observatory, we’d love to hear your thoughts about the experience. You can leave comments here, or drop an email to graaa @ graaa.org

The Full Moon? How about the Full Earth?

Back in November we reported about some amazing images released by the Japanese Kayuga spacecraft orbiting the moon, reminiscent of the famous Apollo 8 photograph of earthrise over the moon. Now, Kayuga has done it again, only presenting a stunning image of the full disc of the Earth above the lunar horizon.

If you read the press release, you will find a high resolution version where you can see more detail on the earth’s disc. Also, you can view the movies that were taken at the time.