SCROLL DOWN FOR CURRENT PROGRAMS AND HOURS

HYDE OBSERVATORY IS CLOSED

THE OBSERVATORY IS CLOSED FOR RENOVATION. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR RE-OPENING.

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 APRIL

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 11:00 p.m. (DST). It is bright and orange-ish in color, but is now almost as far away as it ever gets from Earth, so it is almost impossible to see any details on its surface. Jupiter rises around 1 a.m. at the start of the month, and is up by 11 p.m. at the end of April. Saturn follows it by about 2 hours. Jupiter will be in the evening sky starting mid-May, and Saturn will join it around the middle of June.

The Moon

Lunar phases this month: New Moon is April 5, First Quarter (best time to look at surface features through binoculars or a telescope) is April 12, Full Moon is April 19, and Last Quarter is the 26th.

Deep Sky Objects

Deep Sky Objects are those beyond the solar system: galaxies, nebulae and stars. As nights become warmer in Spring, look for constellations in the eastern sky that mark the onset on summer: Leo (the lion) , Virgo with its bright star Spica, Bootes (the herdsman) defined by its bright star Arcturus. And the Summer Triangle is rising in the east: Deneb in Cygnus (the swan), Altair in Aquila (the eagle) and Vega in Lyra (the lyre). As these objects grow higher in the sky, the likelihood of snow diminishes with each passing day!

Check out our new Celestron 14″ Telescope

Stop by Hyde Observatory and See the Universe!