2003-2004 School Year
(We just started, so things were a little lax in way of events)

October 1, 2003 - The Accelerating Universe (meeting)
Featuring Professor John Hawley of the Astronomy Department
(ASTR 348 "Cosmology, Fall 2003)

Discussion on the basics of cosmology, past and current theories, and focusing on the expanding and accelerating universe.

March 2, 2003 - Meteorites and Stardust (meeting)
Featuring "professional amateur" Greg Redfern
JPL NASA Solar System Ambassador

Discussion of current extinction theories, some fun facts about meteorites and comets, and an extensive meteorite collection.

October 24, 2003- Observing fun at McCormick Observatory

SAS borrowed the 26" telescope (ie, the big one under the dome on O'Hill) and had a night of galaxy searching and Mars viewing. Pictures here.

November 9, 2003- Lunar Eclipse viewing at McCormick Observatory

Total lunar eclipse brought about a very red moon. SAS was able to use the 10" Meade and the 6" Clark refractor in the "Doghouse" outside the dome at McCormick, as well as several good sets of binoculars, to observe the eclipse.

March 23, 2004- NASA Astronauting (meeting)
Featuring past astronaut Kathyrn Thornton from the Engineering School

Discussion of Kathyrn Thornton's experiences as a NASA astronaut and her mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope for the first time in 1993. Really cool pictures were included.

April 24, 2004- Fan Mountain Observatory fun

Professor Mike Strutskie of the Astronomy Department was kind enough to host the SAS for a night at the department's main research facility, Fan Mtn. Students were able to use the 30" reflecting telescope to view the skies.
 
 

Throughout all of the SAS sponsored events were requests by the Astronomy Department to help out with birthday parties, open nights at Fan Mtn and McCormick Observatories, grading and telescope operating for ASTR 121/124, and other odd departmental jobs. Also, the SAS attempted to train its own staff of Telescope Operators that would be on hand to help/work as needed. However, the attempt rather failed (we're still learning ourselves here...) and we will start again this year.
 
 

Page created: September 2004
Page last updated: September 2004
Page curator: Laura Cole (lauralee@virginia.edu)