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HYDE OBSERVATORY IS OPEN AGAIN!

PROGRAMS FOR JUNE: JUPITER (about the solar system’s largest planet, now dominating the evening sky); EARTH’S NEAREST NEIGHBOR (when the moon is visible); THE SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS; and ASTRO NEWS. Each program runs about 20 minutes, and they alternate through the evening.

Your Window on the Universe

  • Our Telescopes

    Featuring views of the night skies through our 3 Telescopes!

  • Presentations & Programs

    Astronomy Presentations every Saturday Night!

  • 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.

  • March 15-August 31

    Sundown to 11 PM

  • September 1-30

    8 PM to 11 PM

  • October 1-March 14

    7 PM to 10 PM

OBJECTS IN THE SKY FOR JUNE

Solar System Objects

Mars and Mercury are close to each other, but very low and dim in the western sky after sunset. If you look at them (on a high hill with unobstructed view), consider: You’re looking inward towards the sun at Mercury, about 60 million miles away. From there, Mars is all the way past the sun and Earth’s orbit on the other side, another 130 million miles out. No wonder Mars appears so tiny! Jupiter, on the other hand, rules the sky all night, a bit brighter and bigger than it has been in 5 years. Saturn rises about 2-1/2 hours after sunset and will be a great sight in the Hyde telescopes starting next month.

The Moon

Lunar phases this month: Saturday, June 1, New Moon is approaching, so the moon is out of the evening sky. Saturday, June 8 is 2 days before First Quarter, so this will be the best public night this month for lunar viewing (best time to look at surface features because they are casting shadows). June 15 is 2 days before Full Moon on the 17th. The terminator (boundary between sunlit surface and darkness) is visible, so you can see shadows of some objects, but a lot of detail is washed out by the moon’s brilliance. The moon rises too late to be seen during observatory hours on the 22nd and 29th.

Deep Sky Objects

Deep Sky Objects are those beyond the solar system: galaxies, nebulae and stars. Our visual guides to these objects are the constellations. Astronomical Summer officially begins on June 21st, and the summer constellations are moving higher into our evening sky. Leo (the lion) , Virgo with its bright star Spica, Bootes (the herdsman) defined by its bright star Arcturus are joined by the Summer Triangle in the east: Deneb in Cygnus (the swan), Altair in Aquila (the eagle) and Vega in Lyra (the lyre).

Check out our new Celestron 14″ Telescope

Stop by Hyde Observatory and See the Universe!