Last Chance: To View Craig Meyers Exhibit

Craig Meyers photographs will be on display until Friday at McFarland Park

Story County Conservation will soon be saying goodbye to the Craig Meyers photography exhibit "Wild Waters” The photo exhibit, from the Colo native, is on display through 4:30 p.m. Friday. The series of photographs feature Meyers travels through Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park and Shore Acres State Park and Bandon Beach in Oregon. McFarland Park is at 56461 180th Street northeast of Ames.

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Orionids Meteor Shower 2012 Peak: When and Where to Watch

Shooting stars will be flying early in the morning, and it promises to be a show worth watching.

The offspring of Halley's comet are about to put on quite a show over the skies of Ames. Earth passes through a stream of debris from Halley's beginning Oct. 15, bringing us the annual Orionids meteor shower, though much won't be visible until a bit later. The shower should be at its best the night of Saturday, Oct. 20, until just before dawn on Oct. 21. This year, the moon will be setting at about midnight, which will keep the sky darkened enough that -- barring cloud cover --  up to 15 meteors will streak across the sky per hour. Meteor showers get their names from the constellations in the sky where they can be spotted. And what's easier to spot than Orion the Hunter? The stars tend to shoot from Orion's club, pierce Tauraus the Bull, …

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(Updated With Video) Where to See the Transit of Venus 2012 in Ames

In case you missed it, a public viewing of the transit of Venus will be held at McFarland Park.

If Tuesday's weather is good, the transit of Venus will look like a small black dot moving slowly across the sun. It's the last time Venus will come between the earth and the sun in our lifetime. “If you want to see a planet transit the sun, now is the only time in your life to see it,” said Evan Zerby, Ames Area Amateur Astronomers community outreach director. Venus last came between the earth and the sun in 2004 and will again about 5 p.m. Tuesday. But the next crossing takes place in 2117. Ames Area Amateur Astronomers club has planned a viewing event in McFarland Park for thousands for the once in a lifetime event. Organizers said to bring a lawn chair. Solar glasses must be worn to watch the transit, but if you don't have them now, it…

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Watch the Transit of Venus Tuesday at McFarland Park in Ames

Ames Area Amateur Astronomers Club Hosts Public Viewing of Venus Transit Tuesday

If Tuesday's weather is good, the transit of Venus will look like a small black dot moving slowly across the sun. It's the last time Venus will come between the earth and the sun in our lifetime. “If you want to see a planet transit the sun, now is the only time in your life to see it,” said Evan Zerby, Ames Area Amateur Astronomers community outreach director. Venus last came between the earth and the sun in 2004 and will again about 5 p.m. Tuesday. But the next crossing takes place in 2117. Ames Area Amateur Astronomers club has planned a viewing event in McFarland Park for thousands for the once in a lifetime event. Organizers said to bring a lawn chair. Solar glasses must be worn to watch the transit, but if you don't have them now, it…

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Story County Welcomes New Conservation Director

Reception held for Michael Cox

Story County Conservation Partners will welcome the new County Conservation director Mike Cox at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. A reception will be held at the Story County Conservation Center at McFarland Park, 56461 180th St., northeast of Ames. The reception is open to the public. Cox will give a brief presentation and will then take questions and comment on Story County Conservation's future. Light refreshments and desserts will be served after the question and comment period. Cox is a native Iowan and replaces Steve Lekwa, who has worked for Story County Conservation since 1973 and was director since 1995.