7:00 – 8:00 General Meeting
Speaker: Vincent Ledvina
Website: https://theauroraguy.com/
Topic: Chasing the Aurora – Nature’s Most Spectacular Light Show. The aurora is nature’s most spectacular light show and an example of space weather in action. Seeing the northern lights is a bucket list item, but how can you maximize your chances of witnessing and photographing this spectacular phenomenon? In this presentation, you will learn about aurora science, how to plan a trip to see the aurora, and what it takes to see northern lights in your own backyard. It’s solar maximum, and the time is NOW to cross “Seeing the Aurora” off your bucket list.
Bio: Vincent Ledvina is a Space Physics Ph.D. student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, but you may also know him as “The Aurora Guy.” Aside from researching what causes elusive “auroral beads,” Vincent is passionate about sharing his love for the northern lights with others. Part of this work involves leveraging citizen science data from aurora chasers who can provide valuable insights into how particularly rare auroras are created. Vincent also runs aurora photography workshops in Fairbanks and is a professional photographer. Outside of Alaska, Vincent is spending his third year with the Aerospace Corporation’s Space Sciences Applications Lab in El Segundo, CA as an intern. At Aerospace, Vincent is focusing on his Thesis work as well as investigating the effects of aurora on the electronics of low-flying spacecraft.