The fall public night series is held on Friday nights beginning September 7, 2007 and ending October 26, 2007. Starting at 8:00 p.m., the program begins with an illustrated presentation on astronomy. Then if the sky is clear, visitors may view several celestial objects through the refracting telescope housed in the dome and other telescopes set up outside on the roof of the building. Individuals, families and small groups are welcome to attend. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult responsible for them. There is no charge for admission.

Fall 2007 Schedule

50 Years of Satellites

Lectures start at 8:00 P.M.


September 7:   The View from High Up.

What does it take to get there? What does it take to stay there? Our ocean of air. The visionaries, Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Robert Goddard. Rockets and their differences.

September 14: The Birth of the “Space” age.

The first successes. Sputnik, Explorer, James Van Allen, the formation of N.A.S.A. Why US boosters and USSR boosters look different.

September 21: Anatomy of a Satellite.

What is it’s purpose? Where is it going to do its work. How long is it going to be useful? Do we want to get it back?

September 28: The Earth from Space

Exploring the Earth and its systems. Nimbus, ERTs, Explorer.

October 5: To Go Where No Man Has Gone Before

To the Moon, and then on to the planets. First we take pictures, then we land, and then we go exploring. Ranger, Pioneer, Mariner,Viking.

October 12: Working Satellites

Communication, television, GPS, ground information (flood plane, crop health, spy and investigation). Echo, Telstar, Comsat

October 19: Satellites with Special Missions

Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, Deep Impact.

October 26 The Future of Satellites

James Webb scope, Phoenix to Mars, universal radar. Exploratory and Working satellites.