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The Naperville Astronomical Association presents A Day of Astronomy Saturday, October 3rd at Waubonsie Valley High School

Event Details:

FREE to the public

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

Events begin at 12:00 Noon and continue throughout the day

Waubonsie Valley High School
Located at the corner of Ogden Ave. and Eola Rd. in Aurora (~2.5 miles west of Fox Valley Mall).
Click Here for Map

Activities:

  • Daytime Solar Observing (weather permitting)
  • Sky Shows at the WVHS Planetarium
  • Night Sky Observing (weather permitting)
  • Raffle Prizes!

Lectures:

  • Michelle Nichols of the Adler Planetarium on the current exploration of the Moon by LRO and LCROSS
  • Dr. Richard Kron of the University of Chicago and FermiLab shares discoveries from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
  • Dr. Dan Hooper of FermiLab will illuminate us about the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy
  • How to Choose Your First Telescope by Steve Miller and Jim Hopkins, NAA

Exhibits:

  • Adler Planetarium
  • SciTech Science Center
  • Fermilab
  • Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting
  • Naperville Astronomical Association

More Info:

Additional information and any agenda changes will be posted to this webpage when available. You may also email questions to IYA@naperastro.org

Special Thanks:

The NAA would like to thank the following for their contributions, support and help in making this a successful event:

Day of Astronomy Agenda: October 3rd, 2009 Updated: September 12, 2009 2:00pm

Click Here to download a printer-friendly PDF

Time Event Location
12:00-6:00pm Exhibits Adler Planetarium (with material from NASA), FermiLab, Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, Naperville Astronomical Association, SciTech Hands-on Science Center Auditorium Lobby
12:00-3:00 pm Solar Observing (weather permitting) Near Planetarium Parking Lot
12:00-12:10pm Welcome by Jeff Stillman, NAA Public Relations Officer Auditorium
12:10-12:30pm International Year of Astronomy by Steve Miller, NAA President Auditorium
12:30-1:45pm Impact – Exploring the Moon with LRO and LCROSS by Michelle Nichols, Adler Planetarium Think we know everything about the Moon? Think again. Currently, we have explored Mars more fully than our nearest neighbor. But that’s about to change with the exploration of the Moon by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and LCROSS. This lecture will provide insight into this amazing mission, including a planned impact of a crater at the Moon’s South Pole on October 9. Auditorium
2:00-3:15pm Discoveries by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey by Dr. Richard Kron, University of Chicago/Fermilab The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is one of the most ambitious and influential surveys in the history of astronomy. Over eight years of operations (2000-2008), it obtained deep, multi-color images covering more than a quarter of the sky and created 3- dimensional maps containing more than 930,000 galaxies and more than 120,000 quasars. Dr. Kron will present discoveries of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). He will describe the motivation for the SDSS, how it was built, how it operates, and will review its scientific impact with specific examples. Auditorium
3:30-4:45pm In Search of Our Universe's Missing Mass and Energy by Dr. Dan Hooper, FermiLab What is Dark Energy? What is Dark Matter? Dr. Hooper of FermiLab will shed some light on the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter. Auditorium
5:00-5:50pm Sky Above, Earth Below by Tyler Nordgren, Astronomer/University of Redlands in California Take a journey with astronomer Tyler Nordgren across the United States as he captures the magnificence of the night from National Parks. Planetarium
6:00-6:45pm How to Choose Your First Telescope by Steve Miller and Jim Hopkins, NAA Big scopes, little scopes, fat scopes, skinny scopes — which one is right for you? The incredible variety of telescopes presents a challenge. Join Steve Miller and Jim Hopkins in a workshop to help you better understand the right telescope for you. Classroom Near Planetarium
6:00-6:30pm Two Small Pieces of Glass Join two students at a star party in this planetarium show where you learn how telescopes work, the history of telescopes, and major discoveries made by these instruments. Planetarium
7:00-7:45pm Tonight’s Sky by Stephanie Rybka, WVHS Planetarium Director Planetarium
8:00-11:00pm Night Sky Observing (weather permitting) Near Planetarium Parking Lot

Join us for “A Day of Astronomy” at Waubonsie Valley High School (WVHS), Ogden and Eola Roads, Aurora, IL to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) which commemorates the 400th year of Galileo’s use of a telescope to observe the heavens. There will be a variety of activities for young and old. Doors open at 12:00 Noon for this free, public event which is sponsored by WVHS and hosted by the Naperville Astronomical Association (NAA).

The day begins with solar observing (weather permitting), exhibits, and lectures. After opening comments and an introduction to the IYA, Michelle Nichols of the Adler Planetarium will talk about exploration of the Moon by LRO and LCROSS.

Think we know everything about the Moon? Think again. Currently, we have explored Mars more fully than our nearest neighbor. But that’s about to change with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Ms. Nichols will provide insight into this amazing mission, including a planned impact of a crater at the Moon’s South Pole on October 9th.

Afterwards, Dr. Richard Kron of the University of Chicago and FermiLab will present discoveries of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). He will describe the motivation for the SDSS, how it was built, how it operates, and will review its scientific impact with specific examples.

The afternoon session continues with an introduction to dark matter and dark energy by Dr. Dan Hooper of FermiLab. This lecture will bring you to the forefront of astronomy and present information on a topic that is only beginning to be understood. Other speakers are currently being recruited to round out our day of astronomy.

Beside lectures, there will be exhibit booths to visit during the day. Representatives from the Adler Planetarium (which includes material from NASA), FermiLab, SciTech Hands-on Science Center, the Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, and the NAA will be available to share information about their organizations and/or institutions.

Still other activities include sky shows at the WVHS planetarium and night time observing of the heavens (weather permitting). Finally, door prizes will be raffled. Some of the prizes include year-long subscriptions to Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines, free admission tickets to the Adler Planetarium, and a copy of Sky & Telescope’s “Pocket Sky Atlas.”

Note to NAA Members:

We are currently looking for additional volunteers to staff the NAA exhibit table, bring telescopes to the event for solar and nighttime viewing, to help with logistics and to share their knowledge and love of astronomy with the public. Please contact Joe Kubal, volunteer@naperastro.org or call 630-983-6159 to volunteer. Please include the times you are available, the events you are interested in volunteering for and your contact information. Come and learn while you share your passion for astronomy!

  

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