October 2016
Recent Developments in Optical and Astronomical Equipment
Jeffrey NorwoodJeffrey Norwood, will review and explicate the many new and exciting developments in recent years that have served to greatly enhance our enjoyment of the heavens. The lecture promises to be not only informative but also highly entertaining!
Near-Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us
Michael RudenkoInterest in, and the dedication of resources for the detection of Near-Earth Objects (asteroids and comets) has increased over the past several decades. I will review our current knowledge of the size and orbits of the known Near-Earth Objects as well as the global efforts to discover and perform follow-up observations of them. Ambitious new upcoming survey projects will also be described.
Lunch at the Starlight Grille
The Elephant in the Dark Room: The Rise of Astrophotography
Scott MacNeillSince the inception of modified DSLR, point and shoot cameras, and webcams as astro-imaging devices; the overall techno geek community has owned the astrophotography landscape. Manufacturers as well as the night photography and astro communities have responded with an arsenal of tricked out devices, cameras that rock at low light, and leaps in processing techniques all with astro awesomeness in mind. Add in substantial development and integration of micro controllers and credit card sized computers that extend tracking and remote functionality, and astrophotography has become the new gospel among the creative world. Kick back with Scott as he showcases inexpensive equipment and techniques to capture and create stunning astrophotos that command the attention of your peers and the larger astro community.
Detecting Other Worlds with a Backyard Telescope!
Dennis ContiAmateur astronomers are now able to detect the transit of exoplanets across their host star with amazing accuracy! Furthermore, they are able to do so with the same equipment and techniques that they use to create fabulous looking pictures of deep sky objects. Professional astronomers are also now using the exoplanet observations from amateur astronomers to advance our understanding of such distant worlds.Dennis Conti will discuss how amateur astronomers are able to do exoplanet observations, how such observations are materially contributing to exoplanet science, and what the future holds.
