Stars Above, Earth Below: Astronomy in the National Parks

Wednesday, 13 January 2010, 5:30 p.m. @ ESRI, Redlands, California

Tyler Nordgren, an astronomer and associate professor of physics at the University of Redlands, will speak about astronomy at our national parks.

Professor Nordgren has been working with astronomers and park rangers to promote astronomy education in the national parks. In 2007, he took a journey across the American landscape, exploring the connections between national parks and the wonders of the night sky. He visited 12 parks in 12 months, from Denali in Alaska to Bryce Canyon in Utah; and wrote about what he discovered on the Planetary Society Web site.

In 2004, Professor Nordgren was part of a team of seven astronomers and artists who converted the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rover camera calibration targets into functioning sundials and saw them land safely in Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum.

Admission is free but reservations are required.