EDUCATION/EXPLORATION/RECREATION

“The Search for Planet X”. Will Oldroyd, Astronomy and Planetary Science NAU

Will Oldroyd, Graduate Scholar in Astronomy and Planetary Science at NAU. Will’s main research focuses on searching for a mysterious undiscovered giant planet—called Planet X—hidden in the distant outer solar system. Topic: “The Search for Planet X”. Will discusses the history and current state of the hunt for a hidden world orbiting deep in the far reaches of our solar system.

Kitt Peak National Observatory and Visitor Center. Casey Good, Public Outreach Specialist at Kitt Peak, Astrophotographer.

Casey Good, Public Outreach Specialist at Kitt Peak, and reknowned astrophotographer. Topic: Kitt Peak National Observatory and Visitor Center in the 2020s. Casey discusses the major scientific endeavors of the observatory and the current and planned Visitor Center programs available to members of the public.

Kitt Peak National Observatory

You can almost touch the stars. Tom Field, Field Tested Systems , Contributing Editor, Sky & Telescope Magazine

Speaker: Tom Field, President Field Tested Systems LLC, Contributing Editor, Sky & Telescope Magazine

Topic: “You can almost touch the stars”. Astronomers have learned an enormous amount about stars by spectroscopy. This talk, with lots of interesting examples, will show you what it’s all about and help you understand how spectroscopy is used in research. Even if you are an armchair astronomer, understanding this field will enhance your understanding of the things your read and the night sky.

The Vatican Observatory and the Big Bang. Mr. James Renn, Vatican Observatory Foundation Board of Directors, Walker Star Barn Planetarium

Speaker: Mr. James Renn, Member of the Vatican Observatory Foundation Board of Directors, Staff at the Walker Star Barn Planetarium in Cave Creek.

Topic: “The Vatican Observatory and the Big Bang”: The presentation begins with a short history of the legacy of the Vatican Observatory, which dates to 1582. It identifies notable members connected to the Observatory, beginning with Christopher Clavius and the 1582 calendar reform, The talk refers to the trial of Galileo as an example of conflict between faith and science, and mentions Angelo Secchi, a founding father of astrophysics. The lecture then discusses Fr. George LeMaitre, who used Einsteins equations to propose a theory of the origin of the Universe we now call “The Big Bang”. This is followed by a short overview of the present state of the Universe and how how the name “Big Bang” was coined by Professor Fred Hoyle in 1949. Finally, the presenter discusses philosophical concepts that personal at the Vatican encounter when they discuss the evolution of the Universe.