Legendary story behind “Demon Star” is topic of free open house

KOKOMO, Ind. -A star nicknamed the "Demon Star, documented on an ancient Egyptian calendar of lucky and unlucky days more than 3,000 years ago, will be the topic of discussion at Indiana University Kokomo's free Observatory open house Sunday (November 10).

Patrick Motl, professor of physics, will begin the open house at 7 p.m. with discussion of Algol, a variable star in the constellation Perseus. Algol serves as the eye of Medusa, a mythical gorgon with snakes for hair. Legend said her appearance was so frightening that anyone who looked at her turned to stone. The hero Perseus killed her and used her head as a weapon.

Algol is a binary variable star system of two stars that revolve around one another, and brighten and dim as one star eclipses the other.

Motl will discuss how the star was recognized as unusual in antiquity, the story of how it was understood as a multiple star system, and the Algol paradox.

After the presentation, stargazers may be able to see Saturn and the moon, with Venus setting and Jupiter rising, through the Observatory's telescopes. They include a six-inch Takahashi refracting telescope and a 16-inch Meade reflecting telescope mounted together. The Takahashi provides exceptionally sharp images of planets, while the Meade allows viewers to see fainter objects in the sky, due to its larger light-collecting area.

Observation will continue through 9 p.m., weather permitting.

The Observatory is at 2660 S. Washington St. Free parking is available on campus.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.