Artifacts: Meeting PDF     YouTube Video of Meeting

The meeting took place on January 8,  2025  at 7 PM on Zoom and at the Robinson Nature Center.

Speaker: Faith Vowler, Outreach Coordinator, Hubble Space Telescope

Brief description of the Discussion: Since its launch in 1990, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has been at the forefront of astronomical research, forever changing our view of the universe and humanity’s place in it. Now, 35 years later, Hubble’s scientific discoveries and images continue to inspire. Join Hubble Outreach Coordinator Faith Vowler for this presentation to celebrate Hubble’s past with of a brief history of the telescope, learn about its present highlights and exciting resources, and discuss its future.

Brief bio of the main speaker:
Faith Vowler—an astronomer, educator, and space enthusiast from Michigan—has worked at NASA since January 2022 as the Outreach Coordinator for the Hubble Space Telescope. She attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a B.S.E. in Space Science & Engineering with minors in Physics and in Astronomy & Astrophysics, and an M.S. in Space Science. She formerly lived and worked in New Mexico as the Education Specialist for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Very Large Array (VLA).  Her hobbies include reading, collecting books, baking, and going to the movies.

The meeting will take place on February 12,  2026  at 7 PM on Zoom and at the Robinson Nature Center.

Speakers: A number of Hal Members

Brief description of the Discussion: Hal has many varied activities. We will cover many of them in detail and also encourage individual exploration. 

The meeting will take place on March 12,  2026  at 7 PM on Zoom and at the Robinson Nature Center.

Speaker: Kalée Tock, AAVSO member and NASA Citizen Scientist

Brief description of the Discussion: In March, HAL welcomes Kalée Tock, AAVSO member and NASA Citizen Scientist, for a timely look at NASA’s new Pandora mission. Pandora launched in January with a one‑year campaign to study starspots and flares on about 20 red‑dwarf exoplanet host stars. Kalée will share early results from the mission’s partnership with NASA Exoplanet Watch, which has issued a special call for simultaneous ground‑based observations—both in and out of transit. She’ll also explain how observers can contribute valuable data and analysis, even without owning a telescope.