The Drake University Municipal Observatory 2012 fall series, “50 Years of Interplanetary Exploration,” is the perfect way to spend a crisp fall evening. Presentations will be held every Friday night through Oct. 26 at the Drake University Municipal Observatory, which is located on the Waveland Golf Course, 4908 University Ave.
Each event in the series features a lecture followed by hands-on viewing of several stellar objects through a large refracting telescope and several smaller reflecting telescopes.
Drake faculty members Herbert Schwartz, lecturer in astronomy, and Charles Nelson, associate professor of physics and astronomy, will give the presentations.
All lectures start at 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Children are welcome with a parent or other responsible adult. Events will be held regardless of the weather; however, due to sky conditions or other special circumstances, the selection for observation is subject to last-minute changes.
50 Years of Interplanetary Exploration
- Sept. 7: Newton Shows the Way
- Sept. 14: Getting There is Half the Problem
- Sept. 21: Fly Bys
- Sept. 28: Dark and Deep
- Oct. 5: Landings Part I
- Oct. 12: Landings Part II
- Oct. 19: The Edge of System Sol
- Oct. 26: Where No One Dreamed of Going
For more information, contact Drake’s Department of Physics and Astronomy at 515-271-3141.