EDUCATION/EXPLORATION/RECREATION

Lagrange Points

Speaker: Steve Bradshaw (EVAC President)

Topic: Lagrange Points

Abstract: The presentation covers what the Lagrange points are, the problem they solve for us, how they operate (graphically in pictures, and using some really basic and illustrated math too), and provide examples of current and past usage of Lagrange points.

Bio: Steve is the current president of EVAC and volunteers for outreach events. Steve is a retired IT instructor and course developer. This is Steve’s second presentation to our club.

Normal Format:

5:30 Astro Imaging Meeting

7:00 General Meeting

Meeting Room: Agave  (down the hall from the old meeting room)

Science from Across the Solar System and Beyond: NASA’s Deep Space Network

Disclaimer: I was unable to schedule a speaker and had lots of refusals due to
Eclipse preparation and attendance.
Speaker: Dr. Joseph Lazio (JPL) via NSN You Tube Channel
Topic: Science from Across the Solar System and Beyond: NASA’s Deep
Space Network
Abstract: Nearly every image of another planet that was taken by a NASA
spacecraft has been transmitted to us through one or more antennas of NASA’s
Deep Space Network (DSN). For almost the past 60 years, the DSN has been
guiding spacecraft to their destinations across the Solar System, sending them
commands for actions to take upon reaching their destinations, and receiving
the data back from them. Moreover, the DSN is a science instrument in its own
right. In this Webinar, I will review what the DSN is, how it enables NASA
missions throughout the Solar System and beyond, and illustrate some of the
scientific measurements that it makes on its own.
Bio: Joseph Lazio is the Interplanetary Network Directorate Scientist at the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D.
from Cornell University, was a National Research Council Research Associate at
the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and was a Radio Astronomer on the staff
of the Naval Research Laboratory, before joining JPL
Format: Video from Night Sky Network (NSN) You Tube Channel

The Moon: Recent Lunar Science and What Lies Ahead – Dr Prem

Speaker: Dr. Parvathy Prem – Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Topic: The Moon: Recent Lunar Science and What Lies Ahead

Bio: Dr. Parvathy Prem is a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD. Parvathy was born in Kerala, India, and lived and studied in the UK, India, and Singapore before moving to the US in 2010. She holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and now spends most of her time studying the Moon using computer models. She is particularly interested in the Moon’s water cycle, and in understanding how visiting spacecraft interact with the lunar environment. Dr. Prem is also a member of the science teams for NASA’s ongoing Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and upcoming Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) missions.

Format: ZOOM Presentation

February 6th, 2024: “A Revolution in Planet Formation”

 

Speaker: Dr. Charles J Law  

Topic: A Revolution in Planet Formation: The ALMA Era and Beyond

Abstract: It has long been known that planets form out of the primordial gas and dust surrounding young stars. In particular, the outcomes of planet formation are of significant interest, not only to understand where our own Solar System came from, but to explain the vast number of diverse exoplanetary systems discovered over the past several decades. Despite this, until recently, many of the details of this process were still unknown. With the advent of a new generation of telescopes such as ALMA and JWST, groundbreaking images have now begun to reveal this process in unprecedented detail for the first time. In this talk, I will discuss our current understanding of the planet formation process, present recent observational findings, and briefly touch on what the future holds for studies of planet formation.

Bio: Charles Law is a postdoctoral researcher and NASA Sagan Fellow at the University of Virginia, having previously completed both his undergraduate studies and PhD in astrophysics at Harvard University. His research focuses on the chemistry of star and planet formation. He uses observations from radio telescopes such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub millimeter Array (ALMA) to characterize the chemical environments in which young planets are forming. As an AAS Astronomy Ambassador, Charles is also interested in science communication and is invested in increasing access and promoting engagement in astronomy and STEM fields.

Format: ZOOM Presentation