During July, August and September on moonless evenings when the sky is darkest, the Lake Afton Public Observatory will present “Famous Astronomers.”

The program is on Friday and Saturday evenings, July 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25; Aug. 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22; and Sept. 11-12 and 18-19.

We all know the Earth turns on its axis once a day and that our galaxy is only one of billions in a vast expanding universe.

But who were the men and women who figured these things out?

Attend “Famous Astronomers” and find out while using the observatory’s 16-inch telescope to look at Saturn (in July), Jupiter (beginning Aug. 1), a cluster of stars, a planetary nebula and a distant galaxy.

During July, August and September on evenings when the moon is out and the sky is bright, the observatory will present “Voyage through the Solar System.”

It will be presented on Friday and Saturday evenings, July 3-4 and 31; Aug. 1 and 28-29; and Sept. 4-5 and 25-26.

Using the observatory’s 16-inch telescope, visitors will have a chance to journey through our solar system as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Voyager spacecraft’s fly-by of Jupiter.

The first stop will be the moon, then Saturn (in July), Jupiter (beginning Aug. 1), and finally Neptune (beginning Aug. 15).

In addition to viewing through the telescope, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the exhibit area with its many interesting displays and activities.

Programs and times, along with events taking place in the sky, are available at (316) 978-7827 (WSU-STAR).

The Lake Afton Public Observatory is operated by the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education, a part of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science at Wichita State University.