GalaxyForum Science event features NASA Eclipse Ambassador team from Wichita

The Ad Astra Kansas Foundation Galaxy Forum, entitled “Asteroids , Eclipses, Exoplanets and more” will be at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, August 26. It is free and open to the public.

With (shaded) eyes on the sky, the NASA Eclipse Ambassador team of Charles Garcia and WSU undergraduate Ed Bierens will speak about the upcoming solar eclipses occurring October 14 and in April 2024. And illustrate with demos. Free glasses given out.

According to NASA, over 5,000 exoplanets have been confirmed since the first in 1995. How do scientists find them? Characterize them? What has been learned? Jonathan Brande, from the University of Kansas physics and astronomy department’s renowned EXOLab will share his lab’s work in this fascinating area of astrophysics.

September brings the return of soil samples taken by the OSIRIS-REx mission from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. Also, the Psyche mission launches in October to the asteroid 16 Psyche. Is it made of nickel and iron as is suspected? Sarah Lamm of the KU geology department, will talk about these missions and their importance.

The Ad Astra Kansas Foundation also has some stellar projects going, including a resolution for recognition of an annual statewide Ad Astra Kansas Science Day.

This event is free, open to the public. One can make a reservation with name and number attending at contact@adastra-ks.org. The event will be livestreamed on the Ad Astra Kansas Foundation facebook.

The Ad Astra Kansas Foundation is a 501c3 organization dedicated to promoting space science education in Kansas.