“Experience the Universe at Charlie Elliott”
Join us for our next meeting at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, August 23rd, 2014 at the Charlie Elliott Conference Center, Room B. Questions? Contact one of our officers.
MEETING AGENDA
Exoplanets!
If you enjoyed Dr. Misty Bentz’s and Dr. Rachel Kuzio de Naray’s talks, you’re in for a treat on August 23rd, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.! Nicole Cabrera will join us in August to discuss her current research on exoplanets.
Although astronomers have been discovering exoplanets since the 1990’s, we have only recently found a planetary system that resembles our own. While our solar system is structured with small, rocky planets close to the Sun and gas giants much farther away, most exoplanetary systems that we have discovered contain “Hot Jupiters,” gas giants that orbit very close to their star.
How do we explain this strange phenomenon when our own Solar System gives us no clues? Did these “Hot Jupiters” form in place or did they migrate toward their central star? Why is our Solar System different and why did it take us so long to find our “twin?” Nicole Cabrera will discuss these topics as they relate to her current research and everyone can be sure to walk away having learned something new!
Nicole Cabrera, a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, was born in Santiago, Chile and grew up in Miami, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Georgia Tech after completing two NSF Astronomy internships in Hawaii and New Mexico. Now an astronomy PhD student at Georgia State University, Nicole spends part of her time collaborating with the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics of Grenoble (IPAG) at Joseph Fourier University in France.
What’s Up
Charlie Elliott Astronomy Observing Supervisor John Towne will be giving a short presentation of what you can expect to see in the sky this month with binoculars and small telescopes as well as the monthly Charlie Elliott Observing Challenge. At the meeting, remember to ask John for the target list and SkyMap! The target list and presentation from the last meeting are available for download below.
Sunset Time Alert
While we would love for everyone to stay for the entire meeting, we realize that some folks prefer to leave a bit earlier so as to set up their equipment at the observing field before dark. If the meeting runs longer than planned, a “Sunset Time Alert” will be announced.
“Observing after the meeting”
All are invited to Jon Wood Astronomy Field immediately after the meeting (weather-permitting). You don’t have to be a member to attend the meeting or join us on Jon Wood Astronomy Field with your telescope (or just your eyeballs). Note: The security gate at the entrance to the main road leading up to the observing field closes at 10:00 p.m. You’ll be able to leave at any time, but you won’t be able to get in after 10:00 p.m. You will, however, be able to park near the gate and walk a few hundred feet to the observing field after 10:00 p.m.
Place: Jon Wood Astronomy Field at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center
Downloads from the Last Meeting
What’s Up Presentation
Charlie Elliott Target List
|
