Bringing the wonders of the Universe to Earth for everyone.
Bringing the wonders of the Universe to Earth for everyone.
March 3, 2026 From Students to Scientists: The Next Generation of Radio Astronomy - Registration Link
Masha Kilibarda — Senior Astrophysics Student at Haverford College
Some of the most iconic images of the night sky involve the dramatic spiral arms found in Galaxies. These structures are found all around us including our own galaxy, the Milky Way. However, even after decades of study, the nature of these spirals remains a mystery. Masha Kilibarda is currently a senior at Haverford College where she is majoring in Astrophysics. In this talk, she will discuss her personal pathway in astronomy, as well as her own research on current spiral formation. She will cover multiple possible theories as well as ways to test them observationally using different methods.
February 3, 2026 The Astronomers' Library: The Books that Unlocked the Mysteries of the Universe - Recording
Karen Masters — Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Haverford College
Karen Masters has written and co-written many books including 30-Second Universe and 30-Second Space Travel. In this talk, she will be discussing her latest book, The Astronomers' Library: The Books that Unlocked the Mysteries of the Universe. This work covers over 800 years of astronomical texts, stretching all across the globe. It describes the most significant astronomical books and libraries with beautiful detail and images. From the earliest star charts and astrological recordings to our modern-day scientific texts. A mix of art, history, and science, this talk has something for everyone!
January 6, 2026 Astronomy Year In Review 2025 - Recording
David Bishop — Astronomy Section of the Rocester Academy of Science
As an avid space enthusiast, David Bishop keeps a keen eye on the latest astronomy news. In honor of the new year, he will review some of the most interesting space news stories you might have missed. This talk will provide fascinating insights on the recent discoveries, missions, and astronomical breakthroughs that shaped our evolving understanding of the universe.
December 2, 2025 Getting Started in NightScape Photography - Recording
Bruce Berger—Amateur Astronomer
Have you ever seen spectacular photos of the night sky reflected in a rural lake? Or the moon rising or setting behind an iconic building or statue. Or the colorful Aurora Borealis dancing around a lighthouse? If you’ve tried taking photos like these, you may have walked away frustrated. But this doesn’t have to be!
In this talk, avid NightScape photographer Bruce Berger will teach you how to use your Digital SLR or Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras, a sturdy tripod, and remote shutter to create stunning images of the cosmos combined with terrestrial features like buildings, landscapes and water. Learn the best techniques to get you started on your NightScape Photography journey.
November 4, 2025 Cosmic Waves - Recording
Simon Thill—ASC&O Associate Director of Astronomy Outreach
Gravitational waves are the next frontier in astronomy. They are radiation emitted from some of the most extreme events in the universe: the merging of massive stars. After the first direct detection only a decade ago, hundreds have since been detected and we now know they fill the space all around us.
Gravitational wave astronomy is a rapidly growing field and many exciting discoveries are being made. In this talk, Simon Thill will discuss how gravitational waves can be used to study the early universe, the large-scale distribution of matter, and fundamental physics. Discover how these signals open a brand-new window into some of humanity’s biggest cosmic questions.
October 20, 2025 The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) at the Vera Rubin Observatory - Recording
Aileen O'Donoghue—ASC&O Board Member, St. Lawrence University
On the 8,800 foot peak of Cerro Pachón in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun it’s ten-year mission to observe the southern sky. The unique, specially designed 3,000 megapixel camera sensor array will conduct a wide-field survey of the universe that will be deeper and wider than all previous surveys combined. Unlike other telescopes, Rubin’s telescope will not target specific objects, but will survey the sky in a predetermined cadence of observations at different sky positions in a varying pattern of order, duration, and filters. In this way, it will obtain images applicable to different scientific questions from finding slow-moving asteroids near Earth to characterizing distant galaxies and quasars forming near the beginning of time. The repetition of observations over ten years will allow astronomers to spot changes in appearance and behavior of objects too slow to be detected by traditional observatories.
October 7, 2025 Blinded by Science - Recording
Jeffrey Miller—ASC&O Board Member, St. Lawrence University
Radio astronomers have long had to deal with human-created sources of interference when scanning the heavens: radio transmissions, microwave ovens, Wi-Fi routers, cell phones. As technology advances it creates more problems for astronomers trying to understand the nature of the Universe. Satellites in orbit around the Earth have frequently caused streaks on photographs taken through large visible-light telescopes, but with the increase of large “satellite constellations” we are now also seeing interference at radio wavelengths. St. Lawrence University astronomer Jeffrey Miller will talk about some of these sources of radio telescope interference, and the measures that astronomers are undertaking to protect the darkness of the night.
September 2, 2025 Welcome to the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory: Your Host to the Skies - Recording
Seth McGowan —President, ASC&O
After a long break in the Cygnus series, Seth McGowan will kick off a new season and provide a sweeping overview of the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory's multifaceted mission to provide immersive educational experiences and demystify the Universe for everyone. From public stargazing nights and astrophotography workshops to educational outreach and citizen science initiatives, you will see how the Center fosters curiosity and wonder under some of the darkest skies in the Northeast. You will gain insight into the Observatory’s cutting-edge equipment, its role in regional STEM education, and the collaborative spirit that drives its programming.