02/22/11 jgm

HAYS, Kan. -- Jupiter and the Orion Nebula are on the agenda for Fort Hays State University's Astronomy Club on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The public is invited.

The evening will start at 7 p.m. with a short program on Jupiter in Tomanek Hall, room 106, followed by viewings through the telescopes located in Albertson Hall and Tomanek Hall.

Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun and by far the largest, is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined. This will be the last chance to see Jupiter this season. The Orion Nebula, a star factory, is now in its prime viewing position.

Admission is free. A cloudy sky will mean that tours will replace the viewings. Clouds will also give the audience an opportunity to learn about efforts to bring a 14-inch telescope to campus. That scope, according to Dr. Paul Adams, Anschutz Professor of Education and professor of physics, would have twice the light gathering power of any other scope located on campus.