Cedar Amateur Astronomers Virtual Public Night

Join Cedar Amateur Astronomers as we host accomplished amateur astronomer Mr. David Falkner for a virtual presentation at 7:30 PM on February 11, 2023. The title of Dave's presentation is "My Amazing and Unexpected Journey to Visit the Research Telescopes in Chile."

Dave was one of 10 people selected nationally to participate in ACEAP (Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program). His talk is about his 11-day experience in December visiting and staying at three major US-owned observatories in Chile: Cerro Pachón (home of the Gemini South telescope), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope. While at these facilities, Dave and the other ACEAP Ambassadors received extensive training about the instruments, the science, data products, and communicating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts. The program also introduced the ambassadors to the people and culture of Chile.  Dave is excited to talk about this amazing experience.

After a successful 20-year career Dave retired from the US Navy and settled in Minnesota where he became an active member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society. He has served as its President and enjoys performing astronomical outreach often speaking to groups at libraries, nature centers and schools. He is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and has authored the book “The Mythology of the Night Sky – Greek, Roman and Other Celestial Lore, Second Edition.”

Go to cedar-astronomers.org/events for more information.