20 October 2016

Upcoming Future in Space and Afternoon Science Coffee Hangouts

Alberto Conti Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

"Beautiful Ballooning and More" Future in Space Hangout

While the world’s space agencies extend humanity's reach into space with science satellites of all kinds, generations of scientists have carried out cutting-edge research from high in the Earth’s atmosphere using balloons with remarkable capabilities and innovative designs to take advantage of the special advantages of high-altitude ballooning. Its program of discoveries is just beginning!

Join Tony Darnell, Alberto Conti, and Harley Thronson on Thursday, 20 October, at 3:00 pm ET as they chatwith Stephen Rinehart (NASA Goddard) and Christopher Walker (University of Arizona) about the challenges and excitement of research ballooning. The best place to hangout with us will be on YouTube, broadcast on the Deep Astronomy Channel. You can also take part in the live chat, RSVP on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter with #AstroCoffee.

This series of hangouts are in affiliation with the American Astronomical Society and the American Astronautical Society. Archives of previous hangouts in this series may be found in a Deep Astronomy YouTube playlist.

Beautiful Ballooning and More Hangout

"The Latest from New Horizons Pluto Mission" Afternoon Astronomy Coffee Hangout

The spectacular New Horizons spacecraft is on its way to a small Kuiper Belt object called 2014 MU69. It will survey this reddish object to learn more about the outer solar system, but up close. New Horizons also has been quite busy: continuing to observe Pluto and a cameo observation of the Kuiper Belt object Quasar ("Kwa-sar”), roughly half the size of Pluto (690 miles or 1,100 kilometers in diameter). Data from New Horizons continues to reveal more details about the atmosphere of Pluto, changes on Pluto’s surface. and other intriguing information.

Join Tony Darnell and Carol Christian on Thursday, 27 October, at 3:00 pm ET as they talk with John Spencer, Kelsi Singer, and Amanda Zangari from Southwest Research Institute/Boulder about these latest exciting results and the findings being uncovered in the New Horizons data. Tune into the hangout with us on YouTube, broadcast on the Deep Astronomy Channel. You can also take part in the live chat, RSVP on Facebook, and join the conversation on Twitter with #AstroCoffee. You can find past Afternoon Astronomy Coffee hangouts on the Deep Astronomy YouTube channel.


What Are Afternoon Astronomy Coffee and Future in Space Hangouts?

Future In Space” and "Afternoon Astronomy Coffee" Hangouts are part of a weekly series, held every Thursday, that also includes a segment on Footsteps to Mars. We bring the the latest research in astronomy, highlights from the future of space astronomy and astronautics planning, as well as updates on the exploration of Mars to you every week via Hangouts on Air. With the cooperation of both the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Astronautical Society (the other AAS), our hosts Tony Darnell, Carol Christian, Alberto Conti, and Harley Thronson bring you topics that examine today's breakthroughs in research and look forward to peer into the unfolding possibilities of what we may learn about the universe and Mars exploration. We join with members of the American Astronomical Society to chat, in an informal online setting modeled after "science coffee" events held in universities and research organizations across the country. We will examine what we hope to learn about exoplanets, black holes, the early universe, quasars, and life in the universe along with what technologies might help us — and reflect upon the scientific endeavors occurring today that uncover amazing astrophysics and lay the groundwork for studies to come.

We will also explore the technology and engineering used today as well as possibilities for future space travel and research with members of both Societies, and probe what our future in space may look like and how we might get there. We will examine the underlying technologies of space telescopes, orbiters, landers, and human space vehicles now and in the years to come. We will delve into topics that help us understand the possibilities and limitations of human space flight and eventual human colonization of other worlds.

We hope you can join us each month as we bring experts from both Societies — people who think about and plan for our future in space — to your computer, tablet, or smartphone. We invite you to bring your questions and comments and get ready to learn about the amazing possibilities for the future of space astronomy and exploration.

 
– Carol Christian, Center for Emerging Media
   Alberto Conti, Northrop Grumman