If you’re looking for a holiday gift that’s out of this world, you might find it in Ames.A calendar developed by the Iowa State University physics and astronomy department features pictures from outer space taken at the Fick Observatory in Boone. I-S-U professor Steve Kawaler says the calendar was developed to give the department more exposure by showing off the pictures they use in research.He says the calendar not only features pictures, but also has information about things that’re going on way up above us. What’s his favorite picture?He likes the cover photo of the Bubble Nebula, a vast gas formation that’s being formed as a very hot star forms. Kawaler says the calendars have disappeared quickly, as though they were sucked up by a black hole.They gave away the initial two thousand calendars and had to order more. The calendar is available at the university bookstore in Ames.
