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March, 2019 Programs
Hyde Observatory will be open every Saturday night in March weather permitting. Check this website, social media, or our telephone (402-441-7094) for weather updates. Note that hours change this month: March 2, 9 open 7-10 p.m., March 16, 23, 30 open Sundown-11:00 p.m.
THE SUN AND THE STARS — a new program on our star and its more common and exotic siblings. Running time: 20 minutes.
THE SPRING CONSTELLATIONS — science and mythology of the night sky above Lincoln right now. Running time 20 minutes.
EARTH’S NEAREST NEIGHBOR — (runs on nights when the moon is brightest, instead of Winter Constellations). Running time: 20 minutes.
ASTRO NEWS — What’s Up in March and short stories on the latest discoveries in Astronomy. Running time: 20 minutes.
Your Window on the Universe
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Our Telescopes
Featuring views of the night skies through our 3 Telescopes!
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Presentations & Programs
Astronomy Presentations every Saturday Night!
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It's all FREE
There is NO ADMISSION CHARGE
HOURS
We’re open every Saturday year-round.
Hyde may be closed if Saturday falls on or very near a major holiday. If in doubt call first: (402) 441-7094.
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March 15-August 31
Sundown to 11 PM
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September 1-30
8 PM to 11 PM
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October 1-March 14
7 PM to 10 PM
What we are looking at through the observatory’s telescopes in March
Solar System Objects
The only planet visible in the evening sky without using a telescope this month is Mars which is in the southwest sky after sunset and sets around midnight (DST). However, it has shrunk to less than 1/4 the size it was last summer — so small that telescopes show no surface detail — and Mars is growing even smaller as Earth continues to move away from it. Venus, Saturn and Jupiter (in that order, from east to west) are all in the pre-dawn sky, not visible in the evening. Venus is the very bright “star” in the southeast morning sky, rising about 2 hours before the sun during March, but it moves a little bit closer to the sun each day. Saturn lies to the left of the constellation Sagittarius, and Jupiter is to its right.
The Moon
On Saturday public nights this month: March 2 — Four nights before New Moon (March 6), not visible; March 9 — The moon is a thin crescent in the west just after sunset, and sets before the observatory closes; March 16 — Just after First Quarter, the moon has a clearly-defined terminator (boundary between light and dark), the best night in March for moon viewing; March 23 — Just after Full phase, the moon rises just as the observatory is closing at 11:00 p.m.; March 30 — The moon is not in the sky during observatory hours.
Deep Sky Objects
Galaxies, nebulae, globular star clusters and other objects will be targets for the Hyde telescopes throughout the month, depending upon sky conditions (best seen on March 2, 23, and 30 when the moon will not be blotting out faint objects in the sky). The bright constellations of late winter dominate the sky now: Orion the Hunter and his dogs, Canis Major with the brightest star in the northern sky, Sirius, and Canis Minor and its bright star Procyon.