April 19

Guest Speaker: Dr. Patrick Peplowski, Johns Hopkins APL – Space Exploration Sector

Topic: MESSENGER at Mercury: New Views of the Innermost Planet

Abstract: NASA’s MESSENGER mission to Mercury revolutionized our view of the innermost planet. This talk will review the MESSENGER spacecraft and mission, from its conception and early development to the exciting low-altitude campaign that preceded the end of the orbital mission at Mercury. The top discoveries of the mission will be presented, along with how they have forced planetary scientists to reevaluate of our understanding of terrestrial planet formation and evolution.

Bio: Patrick is a staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where he served as the instrument scientist for the MESSENGER Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer. His expertise is in the use of nuclear spectroscopy to study the surface composition of airless bodies in our solar system with the goal of understanding how they formed. He now works on developing the Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometers for upcoming missions to asteroids 16 Psyche and the Mars’ moon Phobos. Patrick has a Bachelors of Science in physics from the University of Washington, and a PhD in nuclear physics from the Florida State University.

Guest Speaker: Joe Bohannon

Topic: Astrophotography From Down Under

Abstract: This talk will include a brief history of my forays into astrophotography and will focus on lessons learned from a trip to the Australian Outback.

Bio: Joe grew up in a science professor's household, so has always been interested in astronomy, but he owes his current interest to a floormate in college who had a junky department store refractor. In 2002, he bought his first real telescope and has been slowly upgrading his equipment one item at a time. He holds a PhD in Math from Washington University in St Louis and works for the federal government. Currently he shoots from Severn, MD and has recently gotten into narrowband photography.

Guest Speaker: Richard Orr

Topic: Tips on Observing Mars During the 2018 Opposition

Bio: Astronomy was Richard’s introduction to Natural History.  His first telescope was purchased from paper route money that he earned in the early 1960s.  He has been involved in astronomy clubs, organizations and societies ever since.  Although his formal training is in biology, he took astronomy and physics classes to fulfill his astronomy addiction.  Richard is foremost an active observer of the night sky and owns 5 telescopes.  He has taught an astronomy course for the Graduate School USA (Natural History Division) and has provided astronomy lectures for the Audubon Naturalists Society for the past couple of decades.  He has published several articles on astronomical observations.

Speaker: Lou Mayo, NASA, Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Title: NASA Science Results from the August 21st 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Title:  Determining Initial Conditions for Type Ia Supernovae

Abstract:  Type Ia supernovae have proven to be key objects in astrophysics, with their use in the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe having its 20 year anniversary this year.  However, the physics behind the progenitor systems and explosions is still under debate today.  The way forward will likely involve investigations outside the optical wavelengths and traditional observations near maximum light.  Late-time spectroscopic observations in the near-infrared will be presented, along with how they provide insight into the natural variety of these objects, improving our understanding of the underlying physical processes and their usability in cosmology. 

Bio:  Dr. Tiara Diamond is a CSU Chico Alumna with a BS in physics (2008). She received her PhD in physics from Florida State University in 2015. Currently in her third year as a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at Goddard Space Flight Center, Tiara researches late-time spectroscopy of Type Is supernovae, focusing on identifying signatures which discriminate between current models. Along with her international collaborators, Tiara has presented findings to fellow scientists at astronomy conferences throughout the world. She is also very interested in science policy, education, and outreach, and will be starting a AAAS Science & Technology Policy fellowship this fall with the State Department.

Speaker: John Stansberry, Solar System Lead, Space Telescope Sciences Institute

Title: The Kuiper Belt: What it has Taught (and will Teach) Us

Abstract:
After the discovery of the second Kuiper belt object in 1992 (the first having been Pluto in 1930), our understanding of the solar system and its history have undergone significant changes. The dynammical structure records a history of giant-planet migration previously un-guessed at. The Kuiper belt objects outnumber the asteroids, and are a menagerie of types, including the most extreme coloration, dwarf planets likely to harbor atmospheres, and an astonishingly large fraction of binaries and moons. The most advanced observatories (e.g. HST, Keck, VLT) have been able to reveal something about the physical nature of these objects, but the work is challenging even with those. Future observatories such as JWST, LSST, GMT, and the extremely large  telescopes in planning stages will be necessary to learn more about these objects in general. However, in just a few months the New Horizons spacecraft will fly by the small KBO 2014 MU69 at a range of only 3000km, giving us our first up-close look at an example of these fascinating objects.

Bio: John Stansberry is currently working on the JWST project at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. He previously worked on the Spitzer Space Telescope project while at the University of Arizona, and obtained measurements of heat given off by KBOs using Spitzer and the European Herschel Space Telescope. His dissertation was on the interactions between the surfaces and atmospheres of Pluto, and it's sibling, Neptune's moon, Triton.

Speaker: Herman Heyn

Title: A Lifelong Journey in Astronomy.

Abstract: This talk will feature a widely known Maryland astronomer speaking about an avocation in which he has been active his entire life. He is not only an accomplished visual observer, but was also a film-based astrophotographer. Most importantly, he has more experience in public outreach and in popularizing astronomy almost anyone around.

Meeting Cancelled. RNC closed due to weather