Monthly Meeting | NoCoAstro

Our monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, April 2nd at the Fort Collins Museum Of Discover in the Otterbox Dome Theater. The meeting officially starts at 6:15pm but feel free to show up early for social time. We will have refreshments and snacks available at 5:45pm. Afterwards at 8:00pm, members are invited to dinner at Penrose Taphouse & Eatery. Contact Greg Halac if you are interested. Reservations are limited.

The Scale of the Universe

Synopsis: Have you ever wondered how big the universe really is, or how we fit into it? This presentation will help you understand the evidence-based answers that modern science now gives us to these ancient questions. We’ll begin with an overview of the structure of the universe, working outward from Earth to our solar system, galaxy, and the universe as a whole. We’ll then discuss a variety of ways in which you can make sense of the incredible scales of both space and time in our universe. No matter your age or your level of knowledge of astronomy, you’ll surely come away from this presentation with an enlightened “cosmic perspective” that will permanently change how you view our planet, our species, and yourself. Note: This talk is largely based around Dr. Bennett’s book The Scale of the Universe.

Bio: Astrophysicist and author Jeff Bennett has devoted his career to science education and outreach. He is the lead author of college textbooks in four subjects — astronomy, astrobiology, mathematics, and statistics — and is also the author of numerous books for children, educators, and the public. He served two years as a visiting senior scientist at NASA headquarters, proposed and co-led development of the Voyage Scale Model Solar System on the National Mall (Washington, D.C.), created the free Totality app for solar eclipses, and created a free online textbook for middle school Earth and Space Science. Among many honors, his children’s books were the first ever selected for Story Time From Space, in which astronauts read books aloud from the International Space Station, he has won both the American Institute of Physics Science Communication Award and the American Association of Physics Teachers Klopsteg Education Award, and his recent book on global warming won the Foreward Indies Book of the Year award for ecology and the environment. His latest book is The Scale of the Universe, which is the topic of tonight’s talk.

Monthly Meeting General Info

Regular club meetings are currently held at the Otterbox Digital Dome Theater in the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, and are scheduled for the 1st Thursday of every month. Please verify the meeting date and location on the calendar and find out what we have planned. The business portion of the meeting is scheduled for 15 minutes starting at 6:15pm although members often show up early at 5:45pm for social time ... and snacks. :-) Regular topics include:

Announcements on upcoming NCAS events: speakers, stargazing, outreaching, etc.
Brief updates from the club president, treasurer and outreach coordinator.
Items of general interest as shared by members and visitors.

After the business meeting, speakers present an astronomy-related program beginning at 6:30pm. It is free of charge and the public is welcome. Talks are typically geared towards people with a high-school science background but the level does vary. Feel free to contact a club officer for guidance if the target level is not apparent from the talk description. Talks typically last for 45 minutes. Questions are usually welcome both during and after the talk.

NoCoAstro invites speakers to be our guest for dinner immediately after the club meeting. Dinner details are sent to the “club-news” email list shortly before the meeting. Dinner provides a great opportunity to welcome and get to know our speaker. Typically ~10 club members usually attend.

NoCoAstro greatly appreciates the members and experts in the Northern Colorado region who have taken the time to share their knowledge with the public and the club.