Nebraskans will have three chances to spy an astronaut this weekend as NASA astronaut and Nebraska native Clayton Anderson visits the cornhusker state.

He kicked off his visit Saturday morning at University of Nebraska Lincoln's Morril Hall to commemorate the 2009 International Year of Astronomy which celebrates the 400 years since Galileo first turned his telescope to the heavens in 1609, marking the dawn of astronomy and exploration of the universe.

"It's always important to come home to Nebraska," Anderson said. "I have great roots here. I'm very proud of my heritage and being from Nebraska. I'm the only astronaut from Nebraska. I love to come back and share my experiences and my dreams with all the kids and the adults that are here."

Anderson will be at the Hyde Memorial Observatory in Lincoln Saturday night from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.

On March 15, he will conclude his visit by hosting "The Final Frontier," a space-themed concert by the Omaha Symphony at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha at 2 p.m.