NASA Goddard's Dr. James Klimchuk will explore why he outer atmosphere of the Sun – called the corona – is roughly 1000 times hotter than the underlying solar surface. The same is true of other stars. Solving the famous “coronal heating problem” has been one of the great challenges in astrophysics. It is more than just [...]
NOVAC member Cal Powell will present an overview of meteorites (and related objects) with an emphasis on using them for astronomy outreach. After the talk attendees will be able to examine specimens from Cal’s meteorite collection. Come to the meeting and take a selfie with a rock from the planet Mars! Cal will be presenting [...]
This talk will summarize the history of the search for exoplanets, beginning in 1938, and leading to NASA's plans for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a space telescope planned for launch around 2045, intended to detect and characterize Earth-like worlds. This is a virtual presentation by Dr. Boss –Join your colleagues at GMU or join him [...]
In this talk, we will embark on a cosmic journey to explore the fascinating lives of cool evolved stars and their pivotal role in shaping the universe. These stars, in their later stages of evolution, offer unique insights into stellar physics, chemical enrichment, and the cosmic recycle of matter. We will also dive into the [...]
 Come to George Mason for the NOVAC monthly meeting and bring along any astro gear that you would like to trade or sell or give to other NOVAC members.  Doors to the meeting room will open at 7 PM. For those who chose to not venture out in the cold, the Google meet connection [...]
On September 14th, 2015, the two sites of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory detected minuscule ripples in the fabric of space. Â This Nobel-winning accomplishment, the culmination of nearly 50 years of work, also provided us with a new window into the Universe: gravitational waves. Â I will discuss some of the first results from LIGO, and [...]
Dr. Robert Smith from the University of Alberta will present:  The Herschels: A Most Astronomical Family and the Transformation of Astronomy. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, professional astronomers who worked at official observatories focused on the motions of astronomical bodies. The stars were generally only of interest as they provided a background grid [...]
Judith Lean from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado, Boulder CO and the Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Washington DC (Emeritus) will present her work related to Solar Irradiance: Earth's energy sources. Earth’s energy emanates from the Sun, a variable star. Solar irradiance heats Earth’s surface and atmosphere, initiating [...]
NOVAC member Geoff Chester, who recently retired from The U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) will talk about the mission of the USNO and his career highlights. The USNO  performs an essential scientific role for the United States, the Navy, and the Department of Defense. Its mission includes determining the positions and motions of the Earth, Sun, [...]
DSc. E.W. Cliver from the National Solar Observatory, Boulder, CO, will recount the life and career of Richard Christopher Carrington (1826 – 1875) and explore his pivotal relationship with Astronomer Royal George Biddell Airy. Carrington was the pre-eminent solar astronomer of the mid-19th century. During a ten year span, he determined the position of the [...]