Ken Vanlew, retired astronomy and physics teacher, joins us via Zoom to discuss NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. It orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, executing 294 revolutions. Its journey revolutionized our understanding of the planet’s rings, revealing them as dynamic, active structures fed by the moon Enceladus.
Ken Vanlew, retired astronomy & physics teacher, joins us via Zoom to discuss the four largest moons of Jupiter, discovered by Galileo in 1609. Originally called Medicean Stars, they range from volcanic, spewing geysers to cold Callisto with ice hundreds of miles thick. The moons orbit Jupiter in times that range from fewer than 2 days to more than 16 days and influence each other with tidal pulls.
Ken Vanlew, retired astronomy & physics teacher, joins us via Zoom to share his insights. As of 2026, only 3 interstellar comets have been discovered. These bodies from outer space pass by the Sun and planets on a one-time trip never to return. They race through the solar system on hyperbolic orbits too fast to be captured by the Sun’s gravity. Join us to learn more about these interstellar vagabonds with Ken.
Join Elizabeth Kaye, award-winning author, editor and dance historian. Via Zoom, she explores the life and talent of Mikhail Baryshnikov. He is hailed as the greatest male dancer of all time. His brilliance dazzled audiences and in this talk, we will see him in many of his most stellar roles.
Great things sometimes happen by accident, and that is true of many things in life, including astronomy. There are numerous incidents in astronomy where something unexpected is suddenly revealed far beyond the original scope of the research. Some of the most important and spectacular discoveries in astronomy were not the result of carefully planned experiments, but came from unintended results. Join us for armchair astronomy and learn about some of science’s great findings.