“Celestial (Stellar) Navigation” Speaker – Allen Edwards

Member/Speaker Allen Edwards spoke on the continuing use of stellar navigation as applied to Space Navigation – A variation on terrestrial celestial navigation was used to help orient the Apollo spacecraft en route to and from the Moon. To this day, space missions such as the Mars Exploration Rover use star trackers to determine the attitude of the spacecraft. Allen presented an INS unit and Sextant for show and tell experience. About the speaker – Club member Allen has a BSEE degree from Univ. of Illionois and a MBA from the Univ. ofPhoenix. He is president of the StellarNav LLC.

“Digital SLR Astrophotography” Speaker – Ryan Morrell

Speaker/member Ryan Morrell has collected state-of-the-art DSLR astronomy images from undisclosed desert viewing locations. Ryan resorted to unconventional means to obtain his astonishing photographs. Ryan showed his images as well as discussing his technique and equipment.

“Edited Netflix video clip (Edge of the Universe)”

Scientist now see back to just 1/2 million years after the Big Bang. We now have amazing updated concepts about it’s size , shape and ultimate fate.

 “Asteroids, Ion Propulsion, NASA’s Dawn Mission to Vesta & Ceres”

Speaker: Dr. David Williams – ASU