Free Astronomy Lecture : The New Horizons Flyby of Pluto: An Insider’s View | Presidio

Submitted by the Event Organizer

CANCELED: Free Astronomy Lecture | Castro

Once monthly, the SFAA hosts distinguished guest speakers who are leaders in the fields of astronomy, physics and related disciplines and they present to SFAA Members the latest developments from cutting-edge scientific programs.

Held in the Randall Museum Theater on the third Wednesday of every month, come early for coffee and a light snack at 7:30 PM followed by the general meeting at 7:45 PM. The lecture begins at 8:00 PM.

– Updated 6/26/19 – Event info last checked via website

Tuesday, May 17, 2016
CANCELED: Free Astronomy Lecture | Castro

“The New Horizons Flyby of Pluto: An Insider’s View”
by
Mark Showalter, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, SETI Institute

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft passed through the Pluto system on July 14, 2015 sending back our first closeup views of that distant, mysterious world and its retinue of moons. The spacecraft executed its observing sequence flawlessly, and the images are still being slowly downlinked back to Earth. The images have already revealed a remarkable landscape containing including broad plains, mountain ranges several km high, and evidence for volcanoes. The planet is enshrouded by a thin, blue atmosphere. Pluto’s four small moon are spinning wildly, for reasons not currently understood. Mark Showalter, a member of the New Horizons science team, will recount the inside story of the historic flyby and discuss the latest scientific results.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.