Rainwater Observatory in French Camp will offer a free program called “The Secrets of Orion” Friday at 7 p.m., presented by observatory director Edwin Faughn. The program is sponsored by 4-County Electric Power Association.
“The Secrets of Orion” explores one of the most recognizable constellations in the winter night sky. Filled with mystery, legend and a wealth of scientific discovery, it has been recorded by many ancient cultures and is even mentioned in the Bible. Weather permitting, the presentation will be followed by an observing session using some of the observatory’s powerful telescopes. If outdoor observing is clouded out, the planetarium can be used.
Faughn is also an artist and lecturer specializing in space sciences and has presented hundreds of presentations to diverse groups including universities, museums, science centers, schools, churches of most major denominations and other faith based and civic organizations.
His original artwork has been featured in and on the covers of numerous international space science magazines, exhibitions and planetarium productions. He also served nearly 20 years as art director for the Sharpe Planetarium of the Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis, Tennessee. His work has also been featured on the main Kepler website of NASA’s Ames Research Center.
The planetarium is located one mile east of the Natchez Trace Parkway off Mississippi Highway 413 near the village of French Camp, about an hour’s drive from Columbus, about 50 minutes from Starkville.
Faughn invites visitors to come early and enjoy dinner at the Council House Cafe, another support ministry of French Camp Academy.
For more information, contact Faughn at 662-547-7283 or [email protected].
Sign up for the observatory’s free e-newsletter rainwaterobservatory.org.
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