The Branched Oak Observatory near Raymond held a groundbreaking ceremony recently to commemorate a significant expansion.
People are also reading…
August 2017: Total solar eclipse in Nebraska
Eclipse Carhenge
Traffic flows toward the entrance to Carhenge north of Alliance on Sunday.
Ernie Wright
Ernie Wright, creator of the path of totality map, discusses the science behind the eclipse at an event in Beatrice Saturday.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye the Science Guy at the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice early Monday.
Homestead
A sign greets visitors to the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice for the beginning of events celebrating the solar eclipse.
Cairo
A store in Cairo is ready for the eclipse.
Eclipse Carhenge
Jake Perkins of Alliance puts sweet corn on a grill in the Over the Hill Campground north of Carhenge on Sunday.
Eclipse Carhenge
Dave Sproat, of Duluth, Minn., and Peg Gould, of Manitou Springs, Colo., work together on a photo at Carhenge on Sunday.
Orange Owl
Orange Owl Painting Studio in Beatrice is ready for the eclipse with its window display.
Quilts
Cynthia Levis of Lincoln stands next a quilt she made depicting the solar eclipse. The quilts will be on display at the Homestead National Monument of America until October.
Homestead
At eclipse events at the Homestead in Beatrice, the NASA booth gives out glasses, bags and more
Eclipse Carhenge
Collette Murray of Boars Pit Barbecue mans a smoker in the Over the Hill Campground adjacent to Carhenge on Sunday. The Alliance restaurant offered beef and pulled pork for sale to hungry eclipse campers.
Eclipse Carhenge
Luisa Prats (left) gets photo-bombed by her sister Mary Prats, as the California and Colorado residents took in the sights at Carhenge on Sunday after traveling to Alliance for Monday's solar eclipse.
Homestead
Crowds were light Saturday for the kickoff of eclipse events at the Homestead in Beatrice.
Carhenge
Carhenge bathed in light Monday morning before the eclipse.
Carhenge
People were parking alongside the highway near Carhenge on Sunday, with the line extending half a mile the other way. The sheriff was shooing them off.
Eclipse Carhenge
Richard and Norma Bruer stake out a spot to photograph the total solar eclipse at Carhenge on Aug. 20, 2017.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Early arrivals await the sunrise and the start of the day's entertainment leading up to the total solar eclipse at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Beatrice Municipal Airport
Beatrice Municipal Airport volunteer Frank Clarke (left) and Maintenance Supervisor Steve Bergmeier watch as Rick Bocock of Austin, Texas, parks his plane Sunday.
Beatrice Airport
Beatrice Municipal Airport volunteer Frank Clarke directs a plane on where to park Sunday as visitors began to arrive for Monday's total solar eclipse.
Homestead
The Homestead National Monument as people set up for eclipse-viewing early Monday.
Barry's eclipse party
A line formed at 8 a.m. to get into Barry's eclipse party. Barry's rooftop was named by CNN as one of 7 best bars to view the solar eclipse.
Camping
The scene of vehicles camped out at Carhenge early Monday.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Beatrice resident David Knisely, with the Prairie Astronomy Club, sets his telescope to track the moon in preparation for the afternoon's total solar eclipse at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Beatrice resident David Knisely, with the Prairie Astronomy Club, sets up his telescope early in the day in preparation for the total solar eclipse at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
South Sioux City residents Ursula Maslonka (left) and Chris Uhl set up their telescope in preparation for the total solar eclipse at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Legislature
Capitol staffers are ready for the eclipse.
Brownville
Three miles out of Brownville.
Sheldon
"Fallen Dreamer" at Sheldon Museum of Art is ready for the eclipse.
Carhenge builder
Carhenge builder Jim Reinders is all smiles for the eclipse.
Clouds
Cloud cover Monday morning at the Homestead National Monument.
Celestial
Makenzie Hinrichs on Monday at Holmes Lake to watch the eclipse.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Eclipse viewing crowds surround the Heritage Center in 2017 at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Free eclipse viewing glasses await visitors to the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Eclipse viewers walk to through the prairie to the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Eclipse viewing crowds surround the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Eclipse
On the road to see the eclipse in southeast Nebraska.
Saltdogs
A line formed outside Haymarket Park of people planning to witness the eclipse during the Saltdogs game.
Holmes Lake
Eclipse-viewers set up at Holmes Lake on Monday.
Homestead
The crowd awaiting the eclipse start at the Homestead in Beatrice.
Eclipse
First contact for eclipse-viewers in Ravenna on Monday.
Indian Cave
The scene at Indian Cave State Park on Monday.
Saltdogs
The line to get into Monday's Saltdogs game.
Saltillo trailhead
The parking lot fills up at the Saltillo Road trailhead before the eclipse trail ride on Monday.
String Beans
The String Beans and Hannah Huston at the Homestead Monument.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye watches the solar eclipse Monday at the Homestead National Monument.
Kevin
10th and P street as the eclipse begins Monday.
Teacher
A teacher at Norwood Park shows how to make a sun mobile.
Eclipse students
Third-grader Lily Skillian works on a sun mobile at Norwood Park Elementary on Monday before students walked outside to view the eclipse.
Carhenge builder
Jim Reinders, Carhenge creator, watches Monday as the solar eclipse begins. His son, Jim, is behind him.
Eclipse students
Norwood Park Elementary got into the eclipse spirit Monday.
Eclipse students
Students viewing the eclipse Monday at Norwood Park.
Holmes Lake
People watching the eclipse Monday at Holmes Lake.
Eclipse Holmes Lake
People watch the eclipse go into totality at Holmes Lake Monday.
Eclipse students
Norwood Park students watching the eclipse Monday.
Eclipse students
Alayna Lindsey summed it the eclipse at Norwood Park on Monday: It was gooood!
Dorchester
Eclipse-watchers in Dorchester on Monday.
Totality
The solar eclipse at totality during the Saltdogs-RailCats game on Monday, August 21, 2017, at Haymarket Park.
Eclipse Carhenge
A couple who traveled from Canada to view the eclipse at Carhenge Monday react as the event reaches totality.
Saltdogs eclipse
Lincoln Saltdogs pitcher Derek Gordon (left) and his fiancee, Tarrah Bossert, don their solar glasses as the solar eclipse nears totality in 2017at Haymarket Park.
Eclipse Carhenge
Monica Hobbs (right) watches the total eclipse at Carhenge near Alliance on Aug. 21. State tourism officials say more than 700,000 people traveled to view the eclipse in the state, with an economic impact of $127 million.
Indian Cave State Park
Indian Cave State Park Monday after the total solar eclipse.
Eclipse Carhenge
Visitors take in the eclipse at Carhenge near Alliance on Monday.
Eclipse Carhenge
Space aliens mingle with visitors Monday to take in the total eclipse at Carhenge in Alliance.
Eclipse Carhenge
Rhonda Olson and her son, Joseph, 14, of Ham Lake, Minn., take in the eclipse at Carhenge in Alliance Monday.
Eclipse Carhenge
Sophia Ernstrom and Mars Akselsen, of Denver, Colo., pick a spot as they joined visitors at Carhenge Monday to take in the total eclipse.
Eclipse Carhenge
Canadians Richard Lounsbury, his son, Austin, 8, and his girlfriend Stephanie Brey watch the eclipse at Carhenge near Alliance. Among the viewers at Carhenge were Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Eclipse Carhenge
Richard Brant of Carpenter, Wyo., brings the weird as visitors converged on Carhenge Monday to watch the total eclipse.
Roof
People watching the eclipse Monday from the roof of the Embassy Suites parking garage.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
More than 500 people reserved seats at a baseball field in Ravenna to watch the total eclipse Monday.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Crowds at the Heritage Center watch as the solar eclipse enters totality and slides in and out of clouds at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Eclipse viewers react as the eclipse appears in a gap in the clouds at the Heritage Center last August at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
Jay McLaren of Rochester, Minn., (center) points to the solar rings that appeared just before the sun reappeared from behind the moon after totality Monday in Ravenna. The McLarens started planning this trip over a year ago.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Crowds at the Heritage Center watch as the solar eclipse enters totality and slides in and out of clouds on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
A visitor to Homestead National Monument of America takes pictures of the total solar eclipse in August.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
From left, Lauren, Robert and Thomas Leick of Minneapolis, Minn., look at the eclipse Monday in Ravenna. Lauren and Thomas each set up a time-lapse to attempt to capture the change in light during the total eclipse.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
Shanta Hejmadi of Minneapolis, Minn., makes a pinhole of sorts with her hand in Ravenna to show the partial eclipse phase of the sun.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
Dennis Keenan of Shelton, Conn., places a thumbtack on a world map to depict where he is from Monday in Ravenna. There were people from across the United States and a few people traveled from Europe, Japan and Australia.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
From left, Sarah, David and Judy Leavitt work to tape a solar filter to a camera Monday in Ravenna. The family traveled from Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., and Maryland to view the total solar eclipse and celebrate a family reunion.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
More than 500 people from all over the United States, and a few people from around the world, view the total solar eclipse from the baseball fields Monday in Ravenna. People reserved seats at the baseball field and the Ravenna Golf Club for $10, but were able to view the eclipse for free from Annevar Park and many other locations in town.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
Naomi Mullinax of Houston, Texas, views the eclipse from a baseball field in Ravenna on Monday. Her family wanted to view the eclipse in a smaller town that was directly on the path of totality.
Ravenna, eclipse 8.21.17
Ellen Schofield of the Twin Cities area of Minnesota looks through a pair of binoculars fitted with solar filters Monday in Ravenna at the baseball fields, where more than 500 people had reserved seats to watch the eclipse.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Adam Tygart, of Manhattan, Kan., hopes for a gap in the clouds during the solar eclipse at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Eclipse viewers react as the eclipse appears in a gap in the clouds at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Eclipse viewers take cover as a short rain shower passes at the Heritage Center on Monday at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Homestead National Monument eclipse
Bill Nye (in white) watches as Monday's solar eclipse exits totality at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice.
Carhenge
Kim Marr, of Gordon, and Clint Echols, of Longmont, Cal., hold a pair of eclipse glasses over a camera to photograph the eclipse at Carhenge Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Andy Bongiovanni and Wanda Samson of Fremont pull over to get one last look at the solar eclipse after watching it in totality in Falls City on Monday along Nebraska 67 near Verdon.
Homestead crowd
Homestead Monument
A drone photo from the eclipse crowd at the Homestead on Monday.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Gary Neighbors of Anitia, Iowa, Kathy Karstens of Audubon, Iowa, and Linda Castro de Cortes of Omaha watch the solar eclipse on Monday in Falls City.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Cars pull over on Nebraska 67 during the eclipse on Monday near Verdon.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Allison Hayes of Brownville stays dry during light rain before the solar eclipse on Monday in Falls City.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Jeannette Heese of Omaha peeks out from her solar glasses during the eclipse Monday in Falls City.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Beth McGill (left) and her sons Matt, 9, and Luke, 10, look up at the eclipse during lunch on Monday in Falls City at the Dine in the Dark event.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Vilas Naikwad (center) points to the sun with his family during the partial solar eclipse on Monday in Falls City. Naikwad and his family drove from Minnesota and mother-in-law Padma Kabadi (bottom right) traveled from India for the event. Falls City closed off two blocks of its cobblestone main street for a Dine in the Dark luncheon catered by two local restaurants.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
The crowd gazes up during the solar eclipse on Monday in Falls City. The town closed off two blocks of its cobblestone main street for a luncheon catered by two local restaurants.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
The solar eclipse peeks out from behind the clouds on Monday in Falls City.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Sonja Hanrahan (from left), John and Madelyn Riles and Joe Hanrahan of Humboldt, Iowa, watch from the side of Nebraska 67 during the solar eclipse on Monday near Verdon.
Falls City Solar Eclipse
Siblings Ismaeel and Salimah Buhari, of Omaha gaze at the solar eclipse on Monday in Falls City.
Diamond ring
The diamong ring effect as totality begins.
Tin hats
These ladies got in the spirit of things with their eclipse hats Monday at Fairmont State Air Base.
Eclipse
Totality ends Monday at Fairmont State Air Base.
Eclipse
Clouds move across the sun as Monday's eclipse nears its end at Fairmont State Fair Base.
Fairmont runway
People park on one of the runways at Fairmont State Air Base to watch Monday's solar eclipse.
Norwood Park
Lillian Barr (in pink) and Elika Umanzor Valladres (in yellow) get their first glimpse of the eclipsed sun at Norwood Park Elementary School on Monday, August 21, 2017.
Eclipse
Chancellor Ronnie Green watches with thousands of others as totality neared at 12:53 pm. Students gather on the green space between the Nebraska Union and the Raikes School to view the solar eclipse. August 21, 2017.
Eclipse University
Thousands of students step outside on the first day of class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to watch the eclipse from the green space between the Nebraska Union and the Jeffery S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management.
