New Star at the Creation Museum

Here is the text of a news release we distributed to the media nationwide yesterday:

NEW 'STAR' AT THE CREATION MUSEUM

Museum Unveils Well-Equipped Observatory

As the Creation Museum approaches its 5th anniversary in May, the museum’s latest high-tech addition was dedicated Friday evening, with guests travelling from as far away as Arizona to attend the special ceremony. The new Johnson Observatory, located on the museum’s grounds in Petersburg, Ky. (near Cincinnati), contains several telescopes, including two permanently mounted16-inch reflector telescopes, which are relatively high power. One of them is of historic value, the Johnsonian Telescope; accordingly, the new observatory is named after the telescope’s inventor, Lyle Johnson.

“Because our planetarium programs inside our museum have attracted over one-million guests since opening in 2007, having an observatory with excellent telescopes is a wonderful addition that will enhance the museum experience for our visitors,” declared Ken Ham, president/CEO of the Creation Museum and the museum’s parent ministry, Answers in Genesis. “We will be able to extend our museum operating hours with some specially scheduled evening programs so that people can peer into the heavens. They will observe the rings of Saturn so clearly and the Moon up close, plus see many other fascinating features of our incredibly designed universe. Indeed, as the Psalmist proclaimed: the heavens declare God’s handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).

The famed Johnsonian telescope now resides in the new Johnson Observatory at the Creation Museum.

The Johnsonian telescope has great historic significance.  Lyle Johnson, who was a Christian and creationist, designed and built this telescope in the 1940s.  The telescope was a part of NASA’s “Project Moon-blink” (1964–1966), and was used to check for hazardous gases on the Moon’s surface before any astronauts would be allowed to make a lunar landing. Johnson’s invention was so innovative that telescopes based on his design are known today as “Johnsonian telescopes.”

Cutting the ribbon at Friday’s observatory dedication was Barbara Johnson Perry, daughter of Lyle Johnson.About 130 people attended the ceremony .Prior to its installation in a specially constructed building with a retractable roof, the Johnsonian telescope was used at a Christian camp, “The Wilds,” in North Carolina. Not having the qualified astronomers to use and maintain the telescope, the camp, with the permission of the Johnson family (Mr. Johnson passed away in 1996), offered it to the Creation Museum.

Lyle Johnson’s daughter Barbara Johnson Perry cut the ribbon at the Johnson Observatory’s dedication on Friday evening, with (l-r): Ken Ham (museum/AiG president), Dr. Danny Faulkner (newly appointed director of the AiG observatory and planetarium), and Dr. Andrew Snelling (director of research for AiG). A part of the Johnsonian Telescope is visible through the doors.

It had been suggested to “The Wilds” that the telescope be donated to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Johnson family members, however, indicated that they much preferred to have their valuable telescope sent to a facility that proclaimed the Creator God of the Universe, and not the evolutionary “big bang.”         Ham stated: “We look forward to continuing the legacy of Lyle Johnson by using his telescope to tell others about God's glory and His gospel message.”

Other telescopes will be used as part of the Creation Museum's “Stargazer's” programs to teach astronomy from a biblical perspective. The special day and evening events at the planetarium and new Johnson Observatory will be listed at: http://creationmuseum.org/events/.

In related news, AiG is announcing the appointment of its new astronomer, Dr. Danny Faulkner. Faulkner will oversee the planetarium and new Johnson Observatory. He will be leaving the University of South Carolina later this year, where he is currently a professor and head of the Division of Math, Science, Nursing & Public Health at USC’s Lancaster campus.

By the way, I want to thank retiring State Senator Jack Westwood and his wife Kelley for attending the observatory dedication and dinner Friday evening. He represents constituents in a large chunk of northern Kentucky—his retirement will come early next year.

The day before our observatory dedication, Sen. Westwood was honored by the Senate president for his 16 years of service to the state. It was something of a bittersweet compliment (but more on the “sweet” side) as the president of the Senate described Sen. Westwood as  “probably the least political person I’ve ever seen serve.”

On one hand it’s a pity that a politician is being highly praised for not being a politician, but on the other, I guess it's high praise for a man who is known for standing for his principles and is not ashamed to be known as a Bible-believing Christian. A legislative colleague was also quoted as saying that even in tough times Sen. Westwood “was truly at peace with himself and the Lord.”

See the full news article about our friend Sen. Westwood (I think you will find the piece quite inspiring) at this link.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken