SPECIAL EVENTS

Fall, 2008

1. View the World AstroCast archive of Jim Kaler's " From Pluto to Planets: What Other Stars are Telling Us." Scroll down to "video clips" and click on the upper-left icon.

2. "The Night Sky," Jim Kaler's Annual lecture to the University of Illinois Astronomical Society, September 9, 8 PM, 141 Loomis.

3. The Stargazer, a planetarium show at Staerkel Planetarium, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 PM from September 5 through Thanksgiving; $4 general admission, $3 for students and seniors.

4. Icko Iben Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series in Astronomy, Mario Livio, "The World According to the Hubble Space Telescope," Wednesday, September 17, 7 PM, Foellinger Auditorium.

5. World of Science Lecture, "The Milky Way," Jim Kaler, Staerkel Planetarium, Parkland College, Friday, December 5, 7 PM ($1 charge).

For extra credit (two points added to the first hour exam) in Astronomy 100 (Section 2) and Astronomy 122&, write a half-page description of the event and hand it in within a week of viewing or attending. All reports, including the report on the World of Science lecture, must be handed in by Wed., Dec. 10.


Observing/Planetarium Alternatives

If you did not attend either a night observing session or a planetarium session, you may do the following to obtain credit.

Night: Critique an astronomy web site, discussing what it has to offer and why it is important, with a 500 word report.

Solar: Critique a solar astronomy web site, discussing what it has to offer and why it is important, with a 300 word report.

Planetarium: Attend the "Prairie Skies" planetarium show at Staerkel Planetarium, which runs Friday nights at 7 PM, and write a 500 word report on the experience. (No shows Oct. 31, Nov. 7, Dec. 5).

All reports for makeup sessions must be in by Friday, December 5.