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Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. |  Member Astronomical League |
 Member International Dark-Sky Association |
| Monthly
Meetings 2009 |
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| 29°39' N, 82°21' W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less) |
Updated Dec. 16, 2009 | ||
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| Meeting Schedule | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| CURRENT SCHEDULE BELOW |
| « INDEX OF SPEAKERS SINCE 1996 (pdf file) » |
USUAL LOCATION
(Check each month's talk below in case usual location changed)
POWELL HALL EXHIBITION CENTER (FLMNH) of the FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
University of Florida Cultural Plaza — Hull Road
(Just east of S.W. 34 Street at western edge of UF campus)
Gainesville, Florida USARoom: Meeting usually held in Lucille T. Maloney Classroom. (Meeting may meet elsewhere in building during summer due to special museum classes.) [Directions and Map]
Parking Warning Powell Hall is located in the UF cultural complex that includes the Phillips Center for Performing Arts (CPA) and the Harn Museum of Art. Also across the street is the SW Recreational Center. Unless there is a CPA performance on the same evening as AAC meetings at Powell Hall, parking should not normally be a problem.
However, if an event is also schduled at the CPA, plan accordingly and arrive early!
(You can check UF's Calendar of Events for scheduled CPA performances)
- All monthly meetings are free and open to the public (but why not become a member!)
- Check detailed schedule for any changes in time or location
- The AAC Executive Council also meets the first Tuesday of the month
SPEAKER SCHEDULE
(Click date to see details)
– Also See The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Calendar Page for Additional Events –
Date (2009) Guest Speaker(s) Title or Topic
January 13 Fred Palgon Rocket Propulsion - History and Development of the World's First Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen Engine, the RL 10 February 10 Howard Cohen, Chuck Broward
& Rich RussinA Trio of Talks (see below) March 10 Laurent Pellerin & Kristin Fiaccato Special Event at Kika Silva Pla Planetarium: Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity (Limited Seating)
April 14 Rich Russin Sinagua Sunwatchers - Archaeoastronomy of the V-BAR-V Heritage Site May 12 Dr. Eric Ford Recent Results from Extrasolar Planet Searches June 9 Bob Duvall Re-Discovering the Moon July 14 Dr. Howard Eskildsen Solar Minimum to the Max August 11 Tippy D'Auria Volcano Suite September 8 Bill Helms How You Can Know, Absolutely and Positively, Whether We Landed On The Moon, No Matter What NASA Says October 13 Russ Romanella (NASA) NASA’s Current and Future Exploration Activities November 10 Dr. Howard L. Cohen Galileo's Affair with Venus December 12 None (Holiday Party) Help Celebrate Our 22nd Anniversary
DETAILS OF 2009 MEETINGS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Fred Palgon, Member of the AAC Board
E-Mail: ampalgon "at" bellsouth "dot" net
Title: Rocket Propulsion - History and Development of the World's First Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen Engine, the RL 10
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: Fred will discuss the history and development of the RL 10 rocket engine. The Pratt and Whitney aircraft RL 10, the power plant for NASA/Lockheed Martin's upper stage Centaur space launch vehicle, was the first rocket engine in the world to use high-energy liquid hydrogen as a fuel. It was the technological pathfinder in hydrogen rocketry and led to the development of larger engines that made possible man's greatest engineering achievement, the lunar landing in July 1969. The presentation will include an overview on the design and development of the Alternate Turbopumps for the Space Shuttle Main Engines, why the original turbopumps needed to be redesigned, and a brief explanation of the engine's operation.
About the Speaker: Fred recently retired from Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, where he worked his entire career of 32 years as a Design Project Engineer. During his career, he designed numerous jet engine hardware systems used in military aircraft for the SR-71 Blackbird, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. While working on gas turbine engines, Fred supported the production of Pratt's only liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen engine, the RL 10 which powers the upper stages of Lockheed Martin's Atlas and Boeing's Delta vehicles. Fred also was directly involved in the Alternate Turbopump Development Program for NASA, which provided replacement designs and production of the High Pressure Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen Turbopumps for the Space Shuttle's Main Engines, which are currently flying on the Shuttle today. Fred graduated from the University of Florida with an Aerospace Engineering degree, and currently lives in Gainesville with his wife.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speakers: Howard Cohen, Chuck Broward, & Rich Russin
Title: "An Astronomical Trio"
- Astronomy's Right-Hand Rule (Cohen)
- How Do I tell My Budget-Master I need Another Scope? (Broward)
- Eyepiece Selection (Russin)
Note This is a change from our previously scheduled talk by AAC President, Bill Helms (How You Can Know, Absolutely and Positively, Whether We Landed On The Moon, No Matter What NASA Says.)
— Sorry for this change at the last moment but personal reasons cause us to reschedule Bill's talk at a later date.
About the Speakers: Please come anyways. We will have three, interesting and informative short talks by enthusiastic AAC members!
Howard Cohen is also a founding member of the AAC and an emeritus professor of astronomy at the University of Florida. Professor Cohen will present a little known but useful "astronomical rule" that he used to teach his students. Come and be privay to a most unusual way to use your right hand!
Charles (Chuck) Broward is a founding member of the AAC, its Astronomical League Correspondent (ALCOR), and Amateur Telescope-Making (ATM) Coordinator. Chuck is as an avid amateur observer and telescope maker. Chuck is one of the AAC's earliest members and is always willing to sell you a telescope!
Rich Russin is currently AAC's vice president. He is scheduled to give our April talk so see his bio below.
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
A Special Event at The SFC Kika Silva Pla Planetarium
Kika Silva Pla Planetarium
(Click for another image)
Speakers: Laurent Pellerin, Director, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium & Kristin Fiaccato, Planetarium Assistant, Kika Silva Pla Planetarium
E-Mail: laurent dot"pellerin "at" sfcc "dot" edu, kristin "dot" fiaccato "at "sfcc "dot" edu
Title: Planetarium Program Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
Location: Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, Santa Fe College Campus, 3000 NW 83 St., Building X, Room 129, Gainesville, FL
NOTE DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL EVENT — SEE MAP
Preview: The AAC Monthly Meeting will have a change of venue for March when we will be guests at the Santa Fe College Kika Silva Pla Planetarium. The AAC had its July 2007 meeting there and received a special preview of the new planetarium prior to its opening to the public. They are happy to have us back and grateful for all of the support that the AAC has given them at past and ongoing events! Following our brief business meeting, Laurent and Kristin will dazzle us with all the planetarium has to offer including a 25 minute presentation of "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity" and a demonstration of the amazing CHRONOS Projector with a preview of the sky for our March star party!
SEATING LIMITATION: Due to limited planetarium seating (abt. 60), priority seating will be for paid up aac members.
(Remaining seats for all others)
However, to assure a seat please RSVP to Programs Chair at: programs "at" floridastars.org
About the Speakers: Laurent Pellerin is the Planetarium Director at the Sante Fe College Kika Silva Pla Planetarium.* (Mr. Pellerin left this position in the summer of 2009.) He came to SFC in May 2007 after 14 years at the Seminole Community College Planetarium.** Laurent grew up in Key West, FL and first got turned on to the stars when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon. He graduated from Seminole Community College* in Sanford, FL and then pursued a Secondary Science Education Degree at the University of Central Florida, earning his Bachelor's Degree in 1993. Laurent has also worked with scientists from NASA and major Universities on meteor research projects. He was part of a six man team who finally proved in 1999 that flashes reported on the moon for centuries are actually meteor impacts. He also enjoys mythology related to the heavens and Native American star lore. He lives with his wife and their combined families in Gainesville.
_________________
*Changed to Santa Fe College in 2009. **Changed to Seminole State College in 2009.
Kristin Fiaccato grew up in the city of Chicago where she was barely able to see the moon through the towering buildings there. After moving to Deltona, FL in 1993, she was lucky enough to have a local astronomy group pay a visit to her class when she was in the fifth grade. Kristin instantly fell in love with astronomy when she gazed at the full moon through one of the telescopes. In was in that breathtaking moment that she knew she was hooked for life. Kristin recently graduated from the University of Florida, receiving Bachelor Degrees in Astronomy and Physics. She has volunteered at UF Campus Teaching Observatory almost every Friday night since 2005. It was her work there that led to her current position as Planetarium Assistant at the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium. (Ms. Kristin left this position in the summer of 2009.) Kristin lives with her husband, Nick, and dog, Cosmo, in Gainesville.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
E-Mail: jpmashie "at" yahoo "dot" com
Title: Sinagua Sunwatchers - Archaeoastronomy of the V-BAR-V Heritage Site
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: The V-Bar-V Heritage Site is located approximately twelve miles south of Sedona Arizona. A recent archaeoastronomy survey, by Kenneth Zoll, describes an abundance of evidence to suggest that this site was used as a seasonal calendar by the Sinagua Indians, from 1150 to 1400 A.D.. The site features a prominent solar panel containing approximately 1030 petroglyphs. Of the 125 classified markings, 11 are believed to have astronomical significance. The precision in placement of these symbols, relative to observable astronomical events, could not have happened by chance. To support this claim, we will examine the cultural relevance of the site to the Sinagua, along with the evidence of astronomical intent.
About the Speaker: Rich has enjoyed a lifelong interest in photography and astronomy. Over the last three years, his focus has shifted more to astronomy. Recently, he has developed an interest in the archeoastronomy of the American Southwest. According to Rich, "I also enjoy the hardware side of modern astronomy. Combined with a love of the past, it gives me a great appreciation of our continuing quest to understand the universe." Rich still maintains his interest in photography, and currently contributes his talent as the AAC's official photographer.
V-Bar-V Heritage Site and Sinagua Solar Panel
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Dr. Eric Ford
E-Mail: eford "at" astro "dot" ufl "dot" edu
Title: Recent Results from Extrasolar Planet Searches
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: Dr. Ford gave an exciting presentation last June, Searching for Extrasolar Planets: Care to Join the Hunt?, and is back to report on several observations of extrasolar planets during the past year. This will include images of extrasolar planetary systems, the discovery of transits of the highly eccentric planet HD 80606b, and detection of "super-Earths". As time permits, he will discuss the future prospects for detecting and characterizing extrasolar planets, including NASA's Kepler mission to search for Earth-like planets and observations being planned for the Gran Telescopio Canarias.
About the Speaker: Dr. Eric Ford is an assistant professor of Astronomy at the University of Florida. His research focuses on studying extrasolar planets and improving our understanding of planet formation. Dr. Ford received bachelor's degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 and his Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University in 2003. He continued his research on extrasolar planets as a Miller Fellow at the University of California Berkeley and as a Hubble Fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics before joining the faculty of the UF Astronomy department in Gainesville. You may read more at Dr. Ford's website.
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Bob Duvall
E-Mail: telescopemaker "at" yahoo "dot" com
Title: Re-Discovering the Moon
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: Next to the Sun, The Moon is one of the most prominent objects in the sky. Like the Sun, it interferes with study of deep space objects; but it also presents many exciting opportunities for using your telescope. Join Bob as he gives a tour of the latest in Lunar Observing, focusing on computer-assisted observing, which will make the Moon come alive for you. Find why more and more amateurs are turning to to study what some have called the nearest planet. Learn how to get the most enjoyment out of observing our Moon and how you can even make valuable contributions to science in the process!
About the Speaker: Bob started his pursuit of the universe at age 15 with a homebuilt 6 inch Newtonian. His interest in the Moon has always been great- the Gemini and later Apollo missions to land man on the Moon spurred that interest. Add his favorite movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, with men living on the Moon, on the Clavius basin, and the fascination only grew.
Bob graduated from Cornell University as an Aerospace engineer. While there, he studied celestial mechanics, jet and rocket propulsion systems and modeled supersonic airflow on computers. Personal computers were just taking off at that time and he was swept up in its advance. Bob has worked as a professional software developer for over 30 years. He has worked and consulted for many major companies including IBM, Apple Computer, Lotus, Northop. His professional interests include imaging, digital signal processing and computer graphics. As an amateur astronomer, Bob has always been a telescope maker - creating affordable telescopes on a shoestring. This led to his becoming an amateur optician, making over three dozen telescope mirrors, ranging from 4 1/2 to 18 inches. He currently owns several telescopes: 6, 8, and 12.5 inch telescopes that he's made and he is now in the process of building a 22.5 inch and a permanent observatory for his instruments.
Bob is an active imager, beginning in film and now digital. He imaging is primarily focused on Shallow Sky, High Resolution, Lunar and Planetary digital photography.
The desire to share his love and interest for the Moon led him to a 5 year long project to develop two Lunar software products: Lunar Discoverer and Lunar Pronouncer. Other strong interests are writing and performing music and scuba diving.
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Dr. Howard Eskildsen
E-Mail: HowardEskildsen "at" msn "dot" com
Title: Solar Minimum to the Max
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: What's with the sun these days? It is common knowledge that sunspots vary in number over a cycle of about 11.1 years. The last solar minimum occurred in mid 1996, so the next solar minimum should have occurred in 2007; only it didn't. In fact the first cycle 24 (new cycle) spot did not appear until January of last year, and 2008 had the lowest sunspot count since 1913. This year is starting off even slower, and some of the old cycle 23 spots still occasionally surface. Carrington rotation 2081, which began in March, had no NOAA numbered spots at all and the Wolf number was zero every day except one during the whole rotation. Are sunspots about to disappear, as some have recently speculated, or are we headed for another Maunder Minimum?
But wait a minute; whatÆs the difference between a cycle 23 and a cycle 24 sunspot? What is a Maunder Minimum, a Carrington rotation or a Wolf number? For that matter what is a sunspot and how does the sun conjure them? What does it all mean or even matter? For answers to this, and even more questions than sane people would care to know about the Sun, attend Solar Minimum to the Max. If there is something about the sun that Howard can not explain, before he is done he will make sure that you are just as confused as he is about it.
About the Speaker: AAC member Howard Eskildsen has been interested in the stars, Sun and Moon since childhood. In grade school he learned the stars from star charts in a book and spent hours looking at the sky and watching for meteors. His first telescopic views came from his high school's sadly abused Dynascope, that he restored to working condition. Later he made a 6" reflector and placed it on a pipe fitting mount, per designs by Sam Brown, and used it for observing when time permitted.
In the years that followed, he attended medical school and raised a family, which left little time for star-gazing. Finally, after a quarter of a century hiatus, he returned to regular observing in 2002 when his wife, Fairy, purchased him a Meade ETX-125. Since then he has observed the Sun and Moon regularly and anything else in the sky when time permits. He has sent nearly 2,000 observations to the ALPO Solar Section and has written a piece on solar photography for their website. He also provided photos and material for Jamey L. Jenkin's recently released book, The Sun and How to Observe It.
Howard also observes the moon and has submitted several hundred lunar photos to the ALPO Lunar Section. He has also written articles for The Strolling Astronomer, Selenology, and The Lunar Observer. In February of this year he presented Hooked on the Moon, a Lighthearted Look at the Joys of Lunar Observing at the Winter Star Party. His photos have appeared on spaceweather.com, LPOD, Astronomy Magazine's Photo of the Day and other web sites.
He enjoys looking at the sky and sharing it with others, and especially appreciates the association with other members of the AAC. He hopes that those attending the presentation will find it interesting and informative. Above all he hopes that the attendees will have some fun during the presentation, because he is certainly going to.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Tippy D'Auria
E-Mail: mdauria-r "at" retiree "dot" mdc "dot" edu
Title: Volcano Suite
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: Go on a fantastic journey, to faraway places, and gather data on erupting volcanoes. Can the moon influence volcanic eruptions? Can eruptions be predicted? Do volcanic eruptions contribute to global warming? Follow the team of "Volcano Watch International" on their quest to answer some of these questions. See and hear the dangers, and life and death struggles of flora and fauna caused by erupting volcanoes. The life, death and rebirth are amazing. Join world renowned astronomer and volcano expert Tippy D'Auria as he leads us on this exciting adventure and spectacular presentation of sight and sound. Experience "Volcano Suite"!
About the Speaker: Tippy D'Auria is a retired Electronics Engineer and has a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, and a degree in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. He has been an active astronomer since 1980. He is currently a member of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and has served as a member of the Societies Board of Fellows and was a Vice President of that Society for many years as well. Tippy is also a member of the Local Group of Deep Sky Observers, the Institute for Planetary Research Observatories (IPRO), Association of Lunar and Planetary Opbservers (ALPO), The Alachua Astronomy Club and the Astronomical League. He is also a founding board member of Astronomy Outreach Network and an advisor for the Meade 4M Community.
Tippy is the founder of the Winter Star Party which is sponsored by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and has been the Chairman of that Star Party for thirteen of its twenty five years. Tippy D'Auria is an international lecturer and has lectured on Astronomy at many Universities and Astronomy Clubs. He has been a guest speaker at the Winter Star Party on eighteen different occasions and has also been a guest speaker at events such as the Texas Star Party, Mt. Kobau Star Party, Southern Star Conference, Hidden Hollow Astronomy Convention, Peach State Star Gaze, Starfest Convention, Highlands Star Gaze, Nebraska Star Party, Chiefland Star Party, the 4th Annual Congress of Central American Astronomers and many Astronomy Day Conferences.
In 1987 and 1988 he was awarded the Southern Cross Astronomical Societies "Joe T. Doris Service Award for Outstanding Contributions". In 1992 he was honored with a Lifetime Membership to the Southern Cross Astronomical Society for Meritorious Service to that Society. In 2001, Tippy received recognition for his contributions to amateur astronomy, as he was honored by the International Astronomical Union, when an asteroid was given the name "11378 DAuria". He received the 2007 Astronomical League Award for his many contributions to the astronomical community and in 2008 he received the Astronomy Outreach Award in recognitionn for his contributions for public outreach and education.
In April of 2001, Tippy led an expedition to the Volcanoes of Costa Rica, to film a National Geographic documentary called "The Volcano Hunters". In June of 2001, Tippy joined an elite group of some of the world's best planetary astronomers on a mission to record a predicted flash on the red planet...flashes that may be reflections from ice or other hightly reflecive land features on Mars in a region called Edom. This is the only existing video sequence of this event which made the IAU circulars and headlines throughout the global astronomy community. He is also the author of numerous articles and papers and co-authored, along with Vic Menard, the definitive book on telescope collimation, "Perspectives on Collimation - Principles and Procedures".
Tippy is also an amateur telescope maker who has several instruments of 2, 4.5, 6, 10, 12, 14, and 18 inch aperture. His main astronomical interests are astrophotography, deep sky observing and solar system observing.
He is also a volcano hunter, and enjoys exploring and photographing active volcanoes, and is a member of the International Volcano Watch team.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Bill Helms, President, AAC
E-Mail: bill "dot" helms "at" wildblue "dot" net
Title: How You Can Know, Absolutely and Positively, Whether We Landed On The Moon, No Matter What NASA Says
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: The speaker will present evidence regarding the Apollo missions from sources other than NASA that will allow the audience to come to their own conclusions regarding the truth or falsity of NASA's claim to have landed twelve men on the Moon in 1969–1972. The program will end with a scientific hypothesis which each audience member can test for themselves.
About the Speaker: Bill Helms is the current President of the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc., and has served the AAC, in outstanding capacity, during his previous three years holding the office.
Bill is also past Programs Coordinator of the AAC. He has a Bachelor's degree in Physics and a Master's degree in Management from Florida State University. Bill retired to the dark skies of North Florida after a 35-year career with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), where he was a Firing Room launch console operator for both the Apollo lunar landing missions and the early Space Shuttle missions. While at NASA, Bill designed launch complex instrumentation for the Space Shuttle, and designed the Hazardous Gas Detection System used at the launch complex for over 20 years. The instrumentation he designed was credited with saving five shuttle missions from launch with potentially catastrophic hydrogen leakage. Bill established and managed KSC Instrumentation Development Labs for 20 years. He has been awarded two NASA Exceptional Service Medals.
Bill has been an amateur astronomer for 36 years. In that time, he has earned several Astronomical League Observing Club Awards: Messier - observed the complete Messier Catalog of objects; Binocular Messier - observed 50, or more, Messier Catalog objects using binoculars; and Lunar - observed 100 features of the moon by eye, binocular and telescope. Multifaceted and multitalented, Bill is also a percussionist in the Gainesville Community Band.
This is Bill's fourth presentation to the Alachua Astronomy Club; he has previously given talks on purchasing a telescope in November 2005, reviewed lunar atlases, books, and maps in February 2006, and building his Suwannee Skies Observatory September 2007.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Russ Romanella (NASA)
E-Mail: russellr "at" cfl "dot" rr "dot" com
Title: NASA’s Current and Future Exploration Activities
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
Preview: Russ will summarize many of NASA’s current and future exploration activities. Beginning with a brief history of NASA and ending with an inspirational slide show highlighting human exploration this presentation has been called one of the "best ever about NASA". It is meant to inspire and educate, excite and entertain. With over 250 slides and some of the greatest photography ever taken of our earth and space this presentation is meant to be used as a tool that anybody can customize and use to share the NASA Mission. Each slide has a notes page explaining the content of the slide. The presentation focus on the current Shuttle program, the International Space Station, Orion and Ares for Constellation, Hubble, and other current and future robotic missions.
About the Speaker: Russell Romanella is the Deputy Director for Program Management in the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Processing Directorate. He joined NASA in 1981 as a Co-Op student while attending Florida State University. After graduation, in 1984, he joined NASA as an Operations Engineer, automating Shuttle and Payload Processing schedules and assessments. Mr. Romanella became Project Manager for the Payload Data Management System (PDMS). In 1991 he became Chief of the Software Development section and later was selected as Chief of the Automation Systems Division. His division was also responsible for the Spacelab logistics phase-down activities, as well as the KSC World Wide Web development and deployment activities.
In 1996, Mr. Romanella moved to the Space Station Hardware Integration Office (SSHIO) as chief of the Integration Operations Office. In 1997, he became Element Manager for International Space Station missions, including those flying the Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLM) and the Canadian Robotic Arm.
In May of 2000, Mr. Romanella served as the Deputy Director of the Space Station Hardware Integration Office. In May of 2001, he became Deputy Director for Program Management in the ISS/Payload Processing Directorate. In this, his current position, Mr. Romanella is responsible for plans, processes, and operating philosophies of the ISS and Shuttle Payloads ground operations. He is responsible for long-range multi-year work plans of the subordinate divisions and offices and provides direction to the Payload Ground Operations Contractor. While in this position, critical elements of the ISS have been successfully assembled at KSC, tested, and launched to orbit. These critical space station elements including the US Laboratory, Robotic Arm, Airlock, and large solar arrays are now on orbit and supporting the permanent 3-person crew.
Mr. Romanella has received numerous group achievement and performance awards, including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal in 1996 for his outstanding management leadership in the development and operation of the Payload Data Management System.
Born in Miami Florida, he graduated in 1976 from Southwest Miami High School. He received a bachelor of science in Mathematics and Computer Science in 1984 from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Romanella is currently living in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Dr. Howard L. Cohen, Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Astronomy, University of Florida
E-Mail: cohen "at" astro "dot" ufl "dot" edu
Title: Galileo's Affair with Venus
Location: Powell Hall, Florida Museum of Natural History (Lucille T. Maloney Classroom), UF Campus, Gainesville FL
PARKING ALERT!
Phillips Center for Performing Arts has major evening event (award winning Broadway show "Avenue Q") same night beginning 7:30 p.m. (Many people often begin arriving by 6:30– 6:45 p.m.) Come Early to Park
Preview: The 2009 International Year of Astronomy is ending, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first use of an astronomical telescope. This global effort to help citizens understand their place in the universe has also helped solidify this Italian scientist's designation as "the father of modern science." Unfortunately, rumors, myths and misinformation about this renaissance man and his accomplishments still remain widespread. Too many to mention, these stories, for example, involve who first invented the telescope, who first observed lunar craters, his blindness observing the Sun, the discovery of Saturn's rings, and his condemnation, torture and imprisonment by the Church.
Therefore, this presentation will focus on only one of Galileo's observations, the phases of Venus. This astronomical observation, perhaps his most important, has remained controversial and sometimes misunderstood. Did these remarkable observations of Venus doom the earth-centered model of our solar system as often portrayed, or not? Not only do some question Galileo's observations of Venus but also not everyone correctly understands their connection or meaning as related to the Copernican astronomy of Galileo. Analysis of Galileo's affair with Venus may help us better understand how this significant observational discovery interacted with and influenced solar system models of his time.
About the Speaker: Professor Howard L. Cohen has been actively pursuing astronomy for over 50 years, first as an amateur, then as a professional astronomer. He is a founding member of the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. and continues to serve on its board. Dr. Cohen has held many AAC chair positions, is a frequent contributor to FirstLight and has prepared and made numerous interesting and unusual presentations for the AAC.
Dr. Cohen is also an emeritus professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Florida, where he was on the faculty for nearly thirty-six years. Original research interests have included binary stars, star clusters, occultations and the Hebrew Calendar. During the mid-1960s he was a staff member and researcher at Lowell Observatory. In the 1980s he was a consultant and regional sales manager for Meade Instruments, a world leader in the design and manufacture of telescopes and accessories for amateur astronomers. Professor Cohen is an accomplished public speaker. His "down-to-earth" presentations use lively computer displays, which he has perfected through years of teaching at the University of Florida.
With his wife Marian, an independent travel contractor for Continental Capers Travel & Cruises, Dr. Cohen helps plan, organize and escort unique tours centered on astronomical themes all over the world. After a successful tour to China for the 2009 July total solar eclipse, their next tour will take them to Norway next March for a spectacular northern lights cruise to above the Arctic Circle.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009, 6:00 p.m. ET — Dinner Served 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: None but lots of fun!
Title: "Holiday Party" and Celebration of AAC's 22nd Birthday!
Location: Home of Mark & Cindy Barnett, 3111 NW 18th Place, Gainesville, Florida, (352) 373-2244
Maps to Barnett Residence: 640x512 [Color, B/W], 800x640 [Color, B/W], 1024x768 [Color, B/W]
Preview: AAC will hold its annual December holiday party — a potluck dinner. (There will be no regular Tuesday meeting in December.) Club will buy drinks and paper products. (There will be a food sign up sheet at our October and November meetings — see below.)
Food to Bring: If you miss signing up at the November meetings, please e-mail to potluck (at) floridastars.org and indicate what food dish you will bring:Last year we celebrated our 21st anniversary. This year we celebrate our club's 22nd anniversary! Good food, games, our traditional astro slide quiz, sci-fi space music, more. Begins approximately at sunset. Lasts till whenever.
- Wings, ham rolls, cheese & crackers, finger sandwiches, taco salad w/chips, dessert or other (please designate)
- Also indicate the number of adults and children (give ages) who will attend.
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