Astronomy talks—decoded for beginners.
From solar storms to meteor showers (and beyond), these are my beginner-friendly breakdowns of what the experts shared at monthly meetings—plus what confused me most.
August was a wash. August was a particularly uncooperative month for astronomy in our area. Literally every event was cancelled due to weather. So, our September meeting became an opportune time to collectively vent our frustration—and to find out what we might (hopefully) look forward to in the month ahead. Club President Paul took the … Read more
It was a rainy, yucko day—the kind that makes you want to cancel everything. But I dragged myself to the Village Inn for one reason: Skip’s presentation. The room? Leaking. Buckets, folding caution signs, and water dripping from ceiling tiles and light fixtures just behind us. It was slightly alarming—electrical fire, anyone? Fortunately, that didn’t … Read more
At our latest astronomy club meeting, Dr. Robin Metcalfe treated us to a fascinating presentation on the science behind auroras. Dr. Metcalfe directs the Division of Natural Sciences at York University in Canada. Her talk, titled “Astrosleuthing an Aurora,” blended stunning visuals, cultural insight, and a deep dive into the science of these mysterious lights. … Read more
At my very first astronomy club meeting, I expected some small talk and maybe a few star charts—but I didn’t expect a full-on meteor crash course! Our club president gave a talk called Meteors 101, and it was the perfect intro to shooting stars, space rocks, and the best nights to watch the sky. Presentation … Read more