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48 ----~---------------------------Th_e_Po __ ,e_mi_c _•_w_ed_ne_sd_a_y,_Fe_b_,11_ary_21_, _1,_,, PHOTO Bv DEBBIE PARKS Astronomy Instructor Tom Gougeon discovered no damage to the telescope at the Jesse Besser Museum's Plantetarium Hubble photos e~lightening BY JOEL POTRYKUS STAFF WRITER Astronomy has always fascinated people and bewil- dered the world's minds. The limits of space and the count- less stars are nearly impossible for most to fathom. For centuries, astronomers have been in pursuit of an an- swer to the mysteries of the sky. One such tool for explo- ration, the strongest viewing instrument ever created, is the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble was built by NASA and first placed in orbit on April 14, 1990, by the shuttle Discovery. The Hubble was named after the deceased astronomer Edwin Powell Hubble, who had constructed some of the largest telescopes prior to the Hubble. This telescope has been used to explore planets, search galaxies, photograph star for- mations, and investigate nearly every mystery astrono- mers want to solve. Most recently, the Hubble stunned scientists and observers by discovering previously hidden galaxies. In mid-December, NASA astronomers pointed the Hubble at the handle of the Big Dipper. The telescope re- mained stationary for ten days. The photographs it re- turned showed at least 1,500 new galaxies. The discovery of these galaxies amazed as- tronomers. Their estimate of the number of galaxies exist- ing increased from the previous guess of 10 billion, to an astonishing 50 billion. What also shocked the scientific community was the detection of two new planets outside our solar system. The surprise is that these planets are at the right temperature to hold water and harbor com- plex molecules. As a result, it is now offical that their is real potential for life on other plan- ets. Discussing the finds of the Hubble Telescope, ACC's physics and astronomy in- structor Tom Gougeon said he wasn't too surprised at the nearly-infinite galaxies it had found. He also believes that humans are not the only life in the universe. "It would be egocentric to assume that we are the only ones." These recent discoveries have created a small outbreak of interest in astronomy among the public. This inter- est can be developed through ACC's astronomy course. ACC offers a three-credit course at the Jesse Besser Museum's Planetarium. There J21.CCs .9Lstronomg Program fooK§ up Seeing Eternity in a Grain of Sand For 10 days in December, the orbiting Hubble telescope focused on one thin sliver of the sky near the handle of the Big Dipper. The telescope transmitted 342 separate images; together they fonned the deepest image of space ever taken. i"'s -~ ~, Sun , Cosmic menagerie: The Hubble image shows gala,~ies as spirals and ellipticals, but also as odd shapes, spurring <'?W theories of how galaxies formed, and when. DIXONROIIA NF.WSWF.F:K JANUARY 2 9, 199 6 are currently nine students en- rolled in astronomy, held once a year. Gougeon brought the class back last year after a small lapse of enrolling stu- dents. Besides teaching at the college, Gougeon also is the director of the Planetarium. He began volunteering at the Planetarium in the early '80s and has been director since 1992. Like most people, Gougeon's attraction to space began early, in the first grade, he stated. Since a young age, astronomy has always been a hobby and learning experi- ence for Gougeon. Gougeon is excited at this new interest in space and hopes more people will be- come involved in answering any questions they may have. These recent discoveries, ac- cording to Gougeon "have brought astronomy to the forefront of the public." To further pursue the many mysteries of the sky, visit the Planetarium, open Sundays, with shows at 1 and 3pm. IH J 111• U r'" J LI I AMS i\N {) -,II /- 11 U II H l. E I) ~: l•.P ~ I l'. I.U T ~.AM ( sTSC I,) AN IJ l\" ASA March Evening Skies This chart Is drawn for Latitude 40" North, but should be useful to stargazers throughout the continental United States. It represents the sky at the following local times: Late February 10 p.m. Early March 9 p.m. Late March 8 p.m. This map is applicable one hour either side of the above times. More detailed charts ap- pear monthly in the magazines Astronomy and Sky & Telescope. The planet Venus is plotted for mid-March 1996. At chart time 10 objects of first magnitude or brighter are visible. lrt order of brightness they are: Venus, Sirius, Arcturus, Capella, Rigel, Procyon, Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, Pollux, and Regulus. In addition to stars, other objects that should be visible to the unaided eye are labeled on the map. The double star (Obi) at the bend of the handle of the Big Dipper Is easily detected. The famous Orion Nebula, a cloud of gas and dust out of which stars are forming, is marted (Nb) in that constellation. The open or galactic cluster (00) known as the •eeehive• can be located between the Gemini twins and Leo. Coma Berenices, •Toe Hair of Berenice,• Is another open cluster (OCII, between Leo and Bootes. The position of an exter- nal star system, called Andromeda Galaxy after the constellation in which it appears, is also indicated (Glx). Try to obseMt these objects with unaided eve and binoculars. - D. David Batch CAbrams Planetarium Subscription: S7.50 per year. from Sky Calendar, Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Michigan 48824. "J