Note the change in location! We have been invited to a new restored prairie area just east of Fairbury, Illinois. See “Club News” for more details. Join us!

The club is invited to a celebration of the reopening of the planetarium, complete with new light, sound, and projection system. The donor &ldsquo;star wall&rdsquo; will also be unveiled as well as our new Hubble Space Telescope &ldsquo;Viewspace&rdsquo; video exhibit in the lobby. Food and drink will be served, but you must RSVP to Dave (dleake@parkland.edu or 351-2567) by Sept. 2 so they can get a headcount for food. The regular club meeting will begin immediately after this event.

Program to be announced. See the “Staerkel Planetarium update” in club news for more details.

The planetarium will reopen to regular public programming including “Fall Prairie Skies” and the new digital program “Violent Universe.” All tickets are available at the door. 351-2446 or www.parkland.edu/planetarium.

If skies are clear, we’ll need a few volunteers. Thanks to Mike Rosenberger, the shed is normal operating condition. If it’ clear, let’s meet at the observatory . . . weather permitting. Volunteers are needed. Take I-57 south to the Monticello Exit, go west (turn right) 1.4 miles and then turn left on County Road 700E. The dome is 0.8 miles to the south on your left. Call 351-2567 for cancellation notices.

Dr. Tony Tyson will visit the UI for a public lecture on Dark Energy. See “Club News” for details. This event is free to the public.

Astronomer (and CUAS member) Bob Holmes returns to the dome for an interesting discussion of “Near Earth Asteroids . . . . How Real is the Threat?” Admission is only $1 at the door. Come support one of our fellow club members!

Note the change in location! We have permission to be inside the gates of Homer Lake after sunset. Take I-74 to St. Joseph, then south and look for the signs. After you enter the main gate, take a right to the observing area. Weather permitting.

We’ll have officer nominations this month for calendar year 2011. Voting to occur next month.

The library has requested some sort of program aimed at kids K-5. Details to follow as we get closer to the event..

Our last one for the year – lets hope it‟s clear!

A new digital holiday show replaces “Rites of the Season,” which ran at Staerkel since 1989. Tickets are available at the door and range from $3 to $4. This show will run Fridays & Saturdays through December 18.