The Cowboy Astronomer

After a day in the saddle, riding tail on a herd of Texas longhorn, it was customary to gather 'round a campfire, tell stories and enjoy the beauty of a starry night sky. Cowboy poet and humorist Baxter Black narrates a variety of mythological stories, Native American starlore, and other tall tales gathered over many years of watching and sharing the night sky.

The familiar Big Dipper is an example of just one star pattern that is interpreted differently by different cultures. As Baxter like to say, "You can observe a lot, just by lookin'." You'll even l earn to correctly identify Polaris, the North star and the only star in the sky that never moves.

After a look at the constellations of several seasons, The Cowboy Astronomer examines the relationship between the apparent colors and temperatures of stars. Astronomers working at modern astronomical observatories such as the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas use this information to learn about the life cycles of stars, including how they are formed in giant clouds of gas and dust. The dramatic death throes of stars are also explored, including brilliant novae, supernovae, and mysterious black holes.

School Program presentations of The Cowboy Astronomer are followed by an informal Star Talk examining the current evening sky, and Q&A session as time and groups sizes permit.

Total Running Time (approx): 45:00 minutes