Upcoming Meetings
Unless otherwise noted, PAC meetings are held at Hyde Memorial Observatory in Holmes Park South on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. Meetings are open to the public.
Tuesday October 29th at 7:30pm.
Hyde Observatory, Holmes Park South Entrance
Meetings are open to the public.
October Meeting
Frank O’Brien will present “Flying to the Moon: A view from the Apollo Guidance Computer” (via Zoom)
A flight to the moon seems impossibly complex, especially given the technological state of the art in the 1960’s. While the details are indeed formidable, the concepts are surprisingly easy to understand.
We will discuss the three key components used in the Apollo spacecraft to voyage from the Earth to the Moon and back home again. Importantly, these components – the computer, the guidance platform, and the optics system – all worked together to fly the spacecraft with incredible accuracy. We will also answer the basic questions of spaceflight navigation: Which way is up? Where am I? Where am I going? The techniques used by the astronauts all build on these simple ideas in solving the problem of navigating to our nearest celestial neighbor.
As a special bonus, we will describe in detail of how to land on the Moon!
Tuesday, November 26th, 7:30pm
Hyde Observatory, Holmes Park, South Entrance.
Meetings are open to the public.
November Meeting
The program for the November meeting will be “How to Buy a Telescope.” Every holiday season people ponder buying telescopes as gifts, for their children, for their family or for friends. The few designs found in most department stores offer little information and clerks are rarely knowledgeable. Buying on the Internet or home shopping channels without any help doesn’t inspire confidence. What if you had a chance to have help in making that purchase?
The Prairie Astronomy Club offers this assistance this month at its regular meeting at 7:30pm at Hyde Observatory on Tuesday,November 26th with a session on “how to buy a telescope.” Experienced amateurs will provide examples of both the good and bad purchases and lots of helpful hints.