National Astronomy Day to be celebrated
with star parties on May 20 rain date
05/17/06

The LSUS College of Sciences and the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society will celebrate National Astronomy Day by sponsoring free public star parties in the afternoon and evening on Saturday (May 20), a rain date from the originally scheduled May 6.

The afternoon star party will be held from 12-3 p.m. at the Science Building on the LSUS campus. Visitors can observe the sun and sunspots through solar telescopes and attend two lectures: “The Search for Life on Mars” from 1-2 p.m., and “Contributions of Amateur Astronomers to Our Understanding of the Universe” from 2-3 p.m.

Dr. Cran Lucas, an LSUS professor of biological sciences, will discuss the “Search for Life on Mars,” which will be an overview of the search for water by the Mars Rovers and the possible localities where life may have existed or might still exist on Mars.

Dr. Laura Whitlock, an LSUS assistant professor of physics, will present the lecture, “Contributions of Amateur Astronomers to Our Understanding of the Universe,” in which she will explain that the exploration of space is too vast just for the professionals. Many amateur astronomers have contributed much to the understanding of astronomy.

The evening star party will also be held at the LSUS Science Building and will begin after sunset. The moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and numerous other star clusters, nebula and galaxies will be visible.

A free sky map will be given to all visitors. For additional information contact Dr. Cran Lucas at (318) 797-1524 or mclucas@earthlink.net.