TIFTON — A collection of stunning photographs of stars, the moon, galaxies, nebulae, constellations and planets comprise a new exhibit at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage.  “Celestial Images: Looking Beyond Earth” features the work of amateur astronomers in Tifton and Georgia, along with work by national and international space photographers.

The exhibit will open Saturday, February 11 from 7 to 9 p.m.  The evening will include an informative gallery talk  entitled “Graced by a Bit of Space,” by Dr. Martha Leake,  Ph.D., professor of astronomy at Valdosta State University, followed by perspectives on the phases of the moon by local veterinarian Dr. Larry Branch.

The museum will be open during on Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. –  5 p.m. until Feb. 29.   Jerry Walker will be on hand to conduct special activities related to the photographs for children from 3 – 5 p.m.  Additional exhibit hours are Sundays 1-3 p.m. and Thursdays 5-7 p.m.

On  Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 22-23,  a portable planetarium from the Oatland Wildlife Center in Savannah will be set up in the museum for school field trips with instruction from the Wildlife Center’s Dr. Max McKelvey. 

On Thursday evening, Feb. 23 only, the planetarium will be open to the public from 5-7 p.m. Admission into the planetarium will be free, but limited to the first 50 attendees. The Celestial Images Exhibit will be available to all present.  

Visitors  who  correctly answer five questions about the material in the Celestial Images exhibit and who fill out a registration card, will be eligible to  win a basic telescope in a drawing to be held on the last day of the exhibit.

The amateur astronomers whose photographs grace the exhibit are all full-time or retired professionals in other fields who have held a long-time interest in astronomy. 

Murray Hines, II, director of the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, developed an interest in astronomy as a child with a small dime-store refractor.   Over the last 20 years, his astronomy interests have expanded into large  telescopes, astro-imaging of deep-space objects and computer telescope automation.  Dr. Hines has his own observatory in Chula which houses his telescopes and other advanced equipment.

Steve Farmer, a Ty Ty resident, is an Operations Analyst for the Georgia Department of Agriculture who has been interested in astronomy since he was an eight year old boy.  Currently, his primary interest is minor planet research – light curves and astrometry.  He has built a two-story observatory on his property that is a registered observatory with the Minor Planet Center at Harvard University.

Dick Marti of Tifton, whose education includes Zoology and Veterinary Parasitology, is now retired from the United States Department of Agriculture.  Owner of Bookworm Books, an on-line bookstore, Marti owns several astronomical telescopes and has recently been involved in photography of the moon.

Brian Combs is an attorney who lives in Macon and practices law in Milledgeville.  He child-hood interest in astronomy was rekindled several years ago.  An interest in deep-sky imaging developed into a passion for planetography.  This led him to build an observatory in Buena Visa, GA which he remote controls from his home in Macon. 

Naoyuki Kurita lives near Tokyo, Japan where he is an amateur astro-photographer who records the heavens while on automobile expeditions he takes to escape Tokyo’s light pollution.

Museum board member, Dr. Bret Wagenhorst, commented that it is hoped that viewers of the exhibit will appreciate the beauty of the celestial objects shown in the exhibit and will leave knowing a little more about the fascinating universe beyond Earth.

 The exhibit is designed to be understandable even for those with  no or limited knowledge of the night skies.

The Museum is located on Love Avenue, adjacent to the Tifton Tift County Public Library.  For exhibit information, contact Syd Blackmarr, 388-1090. For afternoon tours, contact Jerry Walker, 382-8123.