SHERIDAN COLLEGE

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY
NEWS
GEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY & ASTRONOMY December 2023

VISIT OUR NEW WEB SITE https://museumofdiscoverysheridan.weebly.com/

GUEST AUTHOR: In this issue we are honored to have Dr. Kenneth Ohm offer his perspective on an event he
witnessed during his tenure at Sheridan College.

HALLEY’S COMET – A COMMUNITY OBSERVES

by Dr. Ken Ohm – Professor Emeritus Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas,
Sheridan College Professor 1966-1992

From mid to late April of 1986, hundreds of Sheridan area residents viewed
Halley's Comet from the Mohns Observatory at Sheridan College. With a
viewing window of 90 minutes each evening, it was touch and go for folks
waiting in line who were hoping to see the once in a lifetime phenomenon.

With my volunteer assistant, Larry Macha, standing on the high-rise

platform to regulate time at the eyepiece, it was critical to keep the line
moving. I was positioned at the foot of the 3-step ladder helping viewers
climb up to the viewing platform.

As the comet slowly descended to set behind the Big Horns, people in line were anxious for those in
front of them to have a speedy viewing. Near the end of one of our viewing nights, we had a long line
waiting to see the comet. The observation window was quickly passing. Suddenly several people were
heard shouting that a very elderly couple had been waiting and should be allowed to view the comet
next. Without hesitation, the crowd cheered in agreement. As they approached, I noticed both were
using canes and moving very slowly. A brief visit with the gentleman indicated that they had both seen
Halley's Comet during its last appearance in 1910. I quickly figured that they must then be in their late
80s or even in their 90s, which I announced to the crowd - who once again gave a positive salute. It was
a very slow process to get the lady to the platform, followed by the gentleman.

Several minutes passed with others in line realizing that their turn would have to be deferred to another
evening before the comet disappeared. As it turned out, the next few nights were cloudy with only
sporadic viewing possible after that. I often think fondly of those kindly folks who graciously missed
their chance to see the comet. With the next Halley's visit in 2061, some 38 years from now, I am
hoping that at least some of them will be around to view it, perhaps with another agreeable crowd
willing to assist and accommodate them.

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DID YOU KNOW?
In 1957 Wyoming resident, Count Frederic Thorne-Rider offered a gift of $250,000 to begin construction
of the permanent campus for Sheridan College.1 The curricula during that period consisted mainly of
agricultural pursuits, but soon entered into the arenas of science and health. Whitney Benefits
Foundation matched the Count's gift.

The Count was an interesting character. A rarified philanthropist with a personal hunger for education
he held four advanced degrees (Ph.B, M.A., Ph.D, and LL.D) from various prestigious colleges in the U.S.
and India. His philanthropic nature won him the title of ‘Count’ which was bestowed upon him by King
Victor Emanuel of Italy. He was also conferred as Papal Chamberlain to the Vatican, a position granted
to high-ranking clergy and laypersons. His home in Buffalo, Wyoming still stands, but he moved to
Sheridan in 1946 after a disagreement with Buffalo parish officials about the location of the new church
he offered to build.

ASTRONOMY NEWS
THE 2023 ECLIPSE
Well, we finally were cut a break from the cloudy weather when
the annular eclipse took place on October 14th. It was a
spectacular sunny day in our area for those who had the proper
viewing equipment. Taken in Southern Utah, this photo was
borrowed from the Internet. The time lapse shows the
phenomena from beginning to end. Around Sheridan if you
weren’t able to snag a welder’s mask for viewing (we never look
directly at the sun) the landscape dimmed in an eerie way. The
shadows became longer, and it looked as if the sun had browned
out. Well it did!

THE 2017 ECLIPSE

Six years ago, if you were fortunate to see the total eclipse on
August 21st, 2017, it was a spectacular crowd pleasing event when
the landscape went completely dark for a few seconds. The party atmosphere in city parks where people
gathered to watch was wonderful.

OTHER ASTRONOMY NEWS

We had hoped this past summer to have star party events. However, with so much cloud cover and
moisture (read mosquitos) over the spring and summer months, coupled with equipment problems we
were unable to make it happen. We are hoping for better luck in 2024.

1
Sheridan Press, Gertrude Spomer, February 11, 1959, page 6. (2) Sheridan Press, February 11, 1959, page 8. (3)
Billings Gazette May 17, 1963, page 5.

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TRAVELS

Over the summer many of our volunteers and staff were galivanting across the world. Dave and Karen
Nicolarsen shared their experiences in Turkey with photos and commentary below. The second article is
by Sue Simonich, Museum News editor relating her trip to the soothing ‘smoking waters’ of Thermopolis,
Wyoming – and a rewarding visit to Ava’s Silver and rock shop.

TURKISH GEOLOGY - FROM ON HIGH!

by Dave Nicolarsen

For three weeks in October Karen and I were able to visit the mystical lands of Cappadocia, Turkey on
the high plateaus of central Anatolia. Fourteen million years ago, volcanoes (which are seen in the
background) erupted and deposited very thick pyroclastic layers of volcanic ash (tuffs). The ash flows
across the landscape were later covered by basalt flows over much of central Turkey. Lake deposits
then covered the area for many years then dried up to form the lakebed strand lines seen in the upper
part of the photo. (see next)

We were able to ride a hot air balloon along with 150 other balloonists to observe the geology from
above. Erosion and rivers carved out the valleys. The “fairy chimneys” otherwise known geologically as
“hoodoos” look like mushrooms due to the hard basalt cap on top of the softer volcanic tuff. Erosion
carved these features. Even today people still use some of these places to live and work.

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This entire region ran across the Silk Road trade route, which was in constant turmoil by the Hittites,
Persians, Alexander the Great, Romans, Byzantines, and the Ottomans. Thanks to the prevalent geology,
early Christians built entire cities and churches digging in the soft tuff material. These rock fortresses
protected them from marauding forces.2 Some of these dwellings date back to 4,000 BCE.

Karen and I were able to live in a newer cave and eat great meals! We had a blast sailing on the
Mediterranean and getting some rest and relaxation.

2The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. Established
when the Han Dynasty in China officially opened trade with the West in 130 B.C., the Silk Road routes remained in use until A.D.
1453, when the Ottoman Empire boycotted trade with China and closed them. From History.com.

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THERMOPOLIS FUN
Ava’s Silver and the World’s Largest Mineral Hot Springs

If you are planning a trip to Thermopolis in the near future,

be sure and take a dip in the hot springs, but don’t miss
Ava's Silver at 631 Shoshoni Street.

Illustrating the huge diversity of Wyoming geology, this

interesting rock shop owned by Ave Coe, stocks an
impressive selection of fossils, rocks and minerals. Ava
designs and makes high quality silver and gemstone
jewelry. Note: She isn't open on Wednesdays.

Ava and her husband Eddy were the original founders of

the Dinosaur Museum in Thermopolis. She and her family have been digging dinosaurs in the western
U.S. for many years. Eddy Coe discovered a rare proto-ceratops from the late Cretaceous period known
as a short-frilled Ceratopsid. It was found in the Judith River Formation of Montana in 1982. The first of
its kind to be discovered, it is officially named "Avaceratops lammersi" for Ava. The fossilized remains
were described by Dr. Peter Dobson and are currently housed in Philadelphia Academy of Science.
A replica is housed in the Natural History Museum in London, England. You can read more about
Avaceratops lammersi here.

Although Certopsids are generally large animals,

the Avaceratops was petit in comparison to most of
the dinosaurs of this genus. “It is an almost
complete skeleton missing only the hip bones and a
majority of the tail. Frustratingly, the roof of the
skull including the horn cores were also absent.
This animal was not an adult. Most of the skull
came apart before it was fossilized but it is believed
the creature was almost full grown when it died.” 3

Another interesting feature of Ava's shop is a

collection of large specimen rocks she has on
Figure 1 Eddy Coe preparing fossil for transport. display in front of the shop. There is a huge piece of
Wyoming jade and other interesting pieces of
Wyoming geology palleted in the parking area. When she isn't open, there are bins near the front door
containing various types of rock for people who are not able to get out and collect for themselves. She
employs an honor system, whereby you pick specimens from the bins and simply put payment in the
box on her front door. Scrounging through the bins is great fun and you will often find some very nice
pieces for your collection.

3
Dobson

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 Drawing from Dinsaurpictures.org, Copyright Scott Hartman 2003

PALEONTOLOGICAL NEWS
FOSSIL UNEARTHED IN NORTH DAKOTA
AN ENORMOUS SEA SNAKE
In the news . . .(CNN Science News – click the link to read full article)

“An enormous sea snake from Norse legend that was fathered by the trickster god Loki and grew
big enough to circle the globe is now the namesake for a different type of “monster” — a newly
discovered species of a massive, meat-eating marine reptile known as a mosasaur, which lived
about 80 million years ago.

Paleontologists recently described the previously unknown mosasaur from fossils found near the
North Dakota town of Walhalla. The town’s name comes from Valhalla, the feasting hall of Norse
mythology where dead heroes gather, so the scientists dubbed the mosasaur Jormungandr
walhallaensis. Its name references Norse myths of Jǫrmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, as well as
the site of the fossil’s discovery, the researchers reported in the journal Bulletin of the American
Museum of Natural History.”

PETRIFIED FOREST NEAR BUFFALO

Recently a ranch family near Buffalo, Wyoming unearthed a forest of petrified giant metasequoia
trees on their property. The amount of paleontology around Wyoming, and near Sheridan is
absolutely astounding.

In the Cretaceous and Eocene periods the Inland Waterway divided our continent which produced
a climate similar to modern day Florida where these ancient trees thrived some 60 million years
ago. You can read more about it here on Cowboy State Daily.

FOR ROCKHOUNDS
FEDERAL BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PUSH IN WYOMING

For those of you who are interested in rock hounding, you might be interested to know about the BLM's
recent push to close federal lands around the Rock Springs area to rock and mineral collecting on federal
land. This may impact a lot of recreationists (hunting, hiking, prospecting, etc.) and possibly sabotage
Wyoming's economy. For more information read Cowboy State Daily.

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Harriet Hageman is working toward blocking this plan. If you have comments you would like to send in
regarding the situation, the agency continues to encourage the public to offer input on their draft RMP,
during a public comment period that closes on Jan. 17, 2024. The draft proposal and a guide for filing
comments are available online.

DREAMING ABOUT DINOSAURS The “Dreaming about Dinosaurs” billboard went up at the end of
January 2023 on I-90 next to the freeway exit to 5th Street. It was funded by the Wyoming Cultural Trust
specifically to help promote our Museum of Discovery’s dinosaur exhibit currently on display at the
Museum at the Big Horns. Many thanks to Dani Stuckle, Director at MABH for her support.

MUSEUM HOURS

As some of you may have noticed museum hours have been a little lean since the end of August due to
the fact that so many of our staff have been on field trips and junkets to faraway places. The Museum
will continue on shortened hours for the time being due to staffing shortages. Upcoming remodeling
and exhibit work may also shorten hours for public viewing. The museum can be opened by
appointment for group tours and volunteers. Call Dave at 307 751-7723 to make an appointment.

In view of the above statements, be sure and check the museum website site for other educational
opportunities around Sheridan designed and developed by the museum staff.

GEM AND MINERAL CLUB The next Gem and Mineral Club meeting will be on January 10th.
No meeting in December. Happy Holidays ya’ll!

Until next time, have a fabulous holiday season. See you next year . . .

Dave Nicolarsen, Museum Curator

Dave's balloon flight over Turkey

Sue Simonich, editor - volunteer