A young observer peers through the CAA's vintage Celestron 16 telescope.
PUBLIC EVENTS
The CAA hosts at least 12 Saturday Public Observing events featuring a guest speaker that is followed—weather permitting—by celestial viewings through telescopes at the facility. During viewing hours, society members will be available to answer questions and provide everyone with an opportunity to look through the Society's telescopes and those of our members.
This site will be updated through out the year as we assemble our speakers and events.
2020 Presentations
September 26, 7:30 p.m. InOMN: Lunar Saturday
Prof. Steve Spangler
University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy
The observatory will not be open, Presentation will be virtual, Link to the presentation
October 10, 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Jasper Halekas
University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy
The Parker Solar Probe Mission
The observatory will not be open, Presentation will be virtual,
November 7, 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Brent Studer
Cedar Amateur Astronomers
TBA
The observatory will not be open, Presentation will be virtual,
2020 Past Presentations
March 21, 7:30 p.m. CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Prof. Steve Spangler
University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Lost Siblings of the Sun
Can we find some of the stars that were formed in the same Star Formation Region as the Sun, 4.5 billion years ago? Incredibly, some sober astronomers think the answer is yes, and published a paper to this effect in the Astrophysical Journal. The star is visible to binoculars and should be up at the time of the March public night.
April 25, 8:00 p.m. CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Dr. Jasper Halekas
University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy
The Parker Solar Probe Mission
May 16, 8:30 p.m. CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Mr. Brent Studer
Cedar Amateur Astronomers
TBA
June 13, 8:00 p.m., Virtual Presentation, Observatory still remains closed
Dr. Raymond Anderson
University of Iowa, Earth and Environmental Sciences
The Manson Meteor Impact Structure and the Decorah Impact Structure
July 11, 8:00 p.m.
Dr. Phil Kaaret
University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy
X-Raying the Milky Way with HaloSat
Presentation will be virtual
July 25, 3:00 p.m. -- Solar Day
Mr. Carl Bracken
Cedar Amateur Astronomers
Cycles of Change
Maunder, Dalton, Centennial…Eddy. A look at global impacts from long duration cycles of solar activity to try and understand the historical record and how it might inform us about the next extended activity cycle. What are some of the latest tools being used in the quest for understanding how our star works and impacts life on our planet?
The observatory will not be open, Presentation will be virtual,
August 8, 8:00 p.m.
Dr. Casey DeRoo
University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Exploring Beyond Our Galaxy with X-ray Astronomy
The observatory will not be open, Presentation will be virtual,
August 22, 8:00 p.m.
Canceled
Due to ongoing power/internet outages in Cedar Rapids
September 12, 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Ahmed Reda (TBC)
Minnesota Astronomical Society
Stellar Evolution
Stars evolve from clouds of gas and dust treading different paths depending on their mass. This presentation explores these different paths throughout the stars' lifecycles.
The observatory will not be open, Presentation will be virtual
Public observing events are held in the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center at the Palisades-Dows Observatory and Preserve through a generous agreement with the Linn County Conservation Department. For directions, please visit our Map to Pal-Dows page or download a pdf version (276 kB.)
The Cedar Amateur Astronomers, Inc. is a participating member of Night Sky Network.
Please consider donating to the CAA
The CAA is on Facebook!
