Spend the evening learning a thing or two about astrophysics! University of Arizona's Kaylah McGowan will join us to talk about her passion: astronomy and telescopes.

The program is an introduction to the sun, moon, and stars and the different telescopes used to observe them. Learn about different phenomena caused by the moon and the sun and how to safely observe them with or without a telescope. The program serves as an amateur astronomer's bootcamp where observers at any level can learn new tips and tricks to observe the day and night sky. McGowan will conclude the program by introducing and performing a short tutorial on how to use free planetarium software for computer and mobile devices. 

About Presenter Kaylah McGowan:

My lifetime passion for astronomy took me to Tucson, Arizona where I completed my BS in applied physics and minor in astronomy at the University of Arizona. During my time there, I worked as an undergraduate student researcher, helping the effort to produce the first image of a black hole using radio astronomy. I am a certified telescope operator, and I work both as an engineer and researcher. I build Computer Aided Design (CAD) models of telescope components and optical system models. I presented my telescope model and research at the National Science Foundation (NSF). I attended the Banneker Institute at Harvard University to research optical telescopic models with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Simultaneously, I worked at Howe Industries, a space-tech company, creating CAD models of a lunar rover for a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) proposal. For fun I have built my own radio telescope.

Registration is required. The  Zoom meeting ID and password will be emailed upon registration and again in a reminder email the day before the program.  The email will be from "LibCal"  - be sure to check your spam folder!