The Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory switched to virtual events and online presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Here's a list of those events and presentations, along with a link to the recording of each presentation on our YouTube channel, so that you can enjoy each of these great talks again.
"Einstein, Gravity, and Multimessenger Astronomy: Part III" - Dr. Aileen O’DonoghueIn Part III – Multimessenger Astronomy, Dr. O’Donoghue will conclude her discussion of the basics of Einstein’s General Relativity, including confirmations of the theory by solar eclipses (including the one coming in 2024) and GPS satellites. She will explain gravitational waves, their detection by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), what events they, satellite and ground-based observatories have revealed about the universe and why this is a new era in astronomy. This is the third talk in a three-part series. Friday, September 11, 2020 – 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Aileen O'Donoghue is the Henry Priest Professor of Physics at St. Lawrence University and a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. |
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"Blue Sunsets and Other Scattered Lights" - Dr. Josh ThomasLight is how we learn about the world and indeed the universe around us. Light tells us what things look like, but it can also tell us about what's between things. Sunsets are red, the sky is blue, I want to know about these things, how about you? But wait, there are blue and red nebulae in space! What fun physics ties these things together? Come find out in this exciting talk! Friday, October 2, 2020 - 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Josh Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Physics and the Director of the Reynolds Observatory at Clarkson University, as well as a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. |
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"Exploring the Zooniverse" - Dr. Valerie RapsonAre you interested in learning more about the scientific research being done in the field of Astronomy? Would you like to actively participate in making new discoveries? Join us for a tour of the Zooniverse! This citizen science website offers a variety of fun online activities where the general public can help analyze data and make new discoveries in the areas of exoplanet hunting, supernova explosions, gravitational wave detections and more… no prior astronomy knowledge required! In this interactive lesson, we'll introduce you to some astronomy projects on the Zooniverse website and teach you how to be a real scientist right from the comfort of your own home. Friday, September 25, 2020 – 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Dr. Valerie Rapson is Astronomer Emeritus at the Dudley Observatory, and is currently a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at SUNY Oneonta. |
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"The Equinox: Facts and Myths" - Jeffrey MillerThe first day of autumn occurs this year on September 22nd. Why? Is this an arbitrary date on your calendar, or does it mark a celestial event? And have you ever heard that eggs will only stand on their end during the equinox? In this talk, we’ll look at the reason for the seasons, and the origin of one of the most common equinox myths. We will also dispel that myth by balancing an egg right before your virtual eyes. Friday, September 18, 2020 – 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Jeffrey Miller is an astronomer at St. Lawrence University and a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. View a video of this presentation on our YouTube channel
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"Einstein, Gravity, and Multimessenger Astronomy: Part II" - Dr. Aileen O’DonoghueIn Part II – Gravity, Dr. O’Donoghue will continue the discussion of the basics of Einstein’s General Relativity, including confirmations of the theory by solar eclipses (including the one coming in 2024) and GPS satellites. She will explain gravitational waves, their detection by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), what events they, satellite and ground-based observatories have revealed about the universe and why this is a new era in astronomy. This is the second talk in a three-part series. Friday, September 11, 2020 – 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Aileen O'Donoghue is the Henry Priest Professor of Physics at St. Lawrence University and a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. |
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"Our Marvelous Moon" - Meg ThacherWhy is this month’s full moon called the “Corn Moon”? What makes a supermoon so super? Where did our moon come from? Meg Thacher will answer these questions and many others in this talk for kids 7 and older — and their grown-ups, of course — and she’ll provide moon observing tips. Try this activity before the talk, and share your artwork and stories! Friday, August 28, 2020 - 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Meg Thacher is the Senior Laboratory Instructor for the Astronomy Department at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has written 30 science articles for kids’ magazines. Her first book, Sky Gazing, comes out in October this year. |
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"Jupiter Re-Discovered" - Mike AdlerThis talk will highlight recent discoveries about the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter. The Juno spacecraft has been in a polar orbit around Jupiter since July 2016 and has taken some amazing pictures of Jupiter, including the first ever of the polar regions, but has also provided a totally new perspective on Jupiter using its 8 scientific instruments. The pictures have been edited and enhanced by amateurs using the raw images from the spacecraft. Mike Adler has also done several of them, which will be shown in the talk. In addition to the images, highlights of the results will be reviewed, including the first measurements of Jupiter interior structure below the upper clouds, measurements of the magnetosphere and the gravitational field and an analysis of lightning on the planet. Friday, August 21, 2020 - 7:00 to 7:30 pm. |
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"Spectroscopy of Stars: Riddle in the Rainbow" - Dr. Josh ThomasA brief introduction to the entire rainbow of light, how it's measured, and what astronomers learn from it. We'll talk a little about types of stars, how we know the chemical compositions of stars, and how we know how fast stars are going. We'll round out the talk and solve the riddle of what information stellar rainbows contain. Friday, August 14, 2020 - 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Josh Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Physics and the Director of the Reynolds Observatory at Clarkson University, as well as a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. |
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"Einstein, Gravity, and Multimessenger Astronomy: Part I" - Dr. Aileen O’DonoghueDr. O’Donoghue will touch on the basics of Einstein’s General Relativity, including confirmations of the theory by solar eclipses (including the one coming in 2024) and GPS satellites. She will explain gravitational waves, their detection by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), what events they, satellite and ground-based observatories have revealed about the universe and why this is a new era in astronomy. This is the first talk in a three-part series. Friday, August 7, 2020 - 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Aileen O'Donoghue is the Priest Professor of Physics at St. Lawrence University and a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. |
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"A Virtual Tour Around The Summer Triangle" - Jeffrey MillerThe Summer Triangle is marked in the sky by a bright star in each of the three constellations: Cygnus, the Swan; Aquila, the Eagle; and Lyra, the Harp. Each constellation contains beautiful and mysterious objects: colorful stars, the remains of an exploded star, a black hole. We'll learn about the Greek mythology behind these constellations. As a bonus, we'll find the current location of Comet NEOWISE. Friday, July 31, 2020 - 7:00 to 7:30 pm. Jeffrey Miller is an astronomer at St. Lawrence University and a member of the Adirondack Sky Center board. |
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Kids in Space
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