It's really a chance for people to do astronomy as a group. For a lot of people, that's easier than going out and learning on their own. The club is open to central Nebraskans of any age with any level of knowledge. On the third Thursday of each month, the club meets at Crane Meadows Nature Center north of Juniata for a one-hour program on topics of interest. The site was chosen because it's easily accessible to residents in the Hastings, Grand Island and Kearney areas, Glomski said.
Topics depend, in part, on whether any significant, celestial events are occurring.
On the Friday of or immediately preceding the new moon, the club meets for outdoor observation. Star-gazers bring their own telescopes for a closer view of the night sky. On a recent Friday night, several club members gathered to peer at constellations and planets. An Interstate 80 truck stop and the glow from Hastings and Grand Island hampered the view a little, but telescopes brought star clusters, distant galaxies and planets close enough to see them clearly. One telescope focused on Jupiter.