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Gilbert Lodge   Since 2004

                 Gilbert Lodge Blog
         The life and times of Mark and Paula Persons

Mike Lynch is well known and is heard as a weather forecaster on WCCO Radio in Minneapolis.  His lifetime hobby has been watching the skies.  He is shown here with one of his many telescopes. (photo from Mike's book)

Thursday, October 7, 2010:  There was a Starwatch Party put on by Brainerd Community Education and Mike Lynch at Forestview School in Baxter, MN.  It was a fun two-hour class on what to look for in the sky.  Mike explained star constellations to the 66 people who gathered to hear his presentation.

Mike's hand-out contained a star chart for the heavens.  He explained that there are many stories, embellished and changed over the years, on how star constellations were formed and named.  Many of the stories go back to Greek mythology.  Those constellations include:

Cassiopeia, the queen
Cepheus, the king
Pegasus, the winged horse
Lyra, the harp
Hercules, the hero
Cygnus, the swan
Aquila, the evil eagle
Sagittarius, the archer
Ophiuchus, the snake handler
Corona Boreasis, the northern crown
Bootes, the hunting farmer
Ursa Major, the big bear.  (contains the big dipper)
Auriga, the goat farmer
Andromeda, the princess
Delphinus, the dolphin
Drago, the dragon

One of Mike's three telescopes that night had a camera, which you can see him setting up.  His shirt has stars.  What would you expect from an astronomer?

A brilliant photo.  Great stuff.

Mike's book is available in many locations. 

He autographed one for us.  It reads, To Mark and Paula Persons, two bright stars.  May the stars be your friends.  Mike Lynch.

Find out more at:

http://www.heavens-above.com

http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams

http://www.mnastro.org

http://www.astronomy.com

http://www.lynchandthestars.com

Mike Lynch is an interesting and fun guy.