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Abbas Mokhtarzadeh<\/strong><\/p>\n IAUCoNOC USA, NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Join us for an inspiring journey through the night sky, exploring how the stars have shaped cultures, guided daily life and inspired people around the world. Celebrate the contributions of women in astronomy and discover simple, hands-on ways for everyone \u2014 kids, families, and aspiring citizen scientists \u2014 to connect with the wonders above!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Matthew Funke<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid hit the Earth and upset the global climate for years, resulting in the extinction of the dinosaurs. They didn’t have a space program, but we do! What are we doing to avoid the same fate? Join to learn the answer to this question.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Doug Lively, Michael Keefe, Alan Rich<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassadors<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Join us for an inspiring panel discussion on NASA\u2019s Artemis mission, humanity\u2019s bold return to the Moon! We’re spotlighting the engineering behind the powerful SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft that will return astronauts, including North Carolina’s own Christina Koch back to the Moon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mike Keefe, Doug Lively<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassadors<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Earth, 3rd rock from the Sun, orbits between other rocky planets like Mars and Venus. Our speakers will compare and contrast various parameters of both Mars and Venus in a bid to determine which planet is the best option for eventual colonization.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dr. Dan Caton<\/strong><\/p>\n Appalachian State University<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Watch a real-time remote connection to Appalachian state’s Dark Sky Observatory and who how we do our science.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Marc Fusco<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Raleigh Astronomy Club<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n We’ll review the exciting things that went on in the world of commercial space in 2025. Dive into what SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, and what the rest are up to, to determine whether they had good or bad years. See how things in commercial space are blowing up \u2014 in a good way!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Matthew Funke<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gather around and explore the night sky through stories from cultures across the globe. From ancient myths and navigational tales to modern discoveries, learn how people past and present have interpreted the stars. See these stories come to life through live science demonstrations of celestial navigation technologies and planetary\u00a0motion. This interactive experience blends dynamic storytelling, hands-on science, and cultural history to celebrate our shared human fascination with the stars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n A look at surprise visits from interstellar comets and dangerous asteroids. Including alien planets and other strange things lurking up there!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Tony Verdone<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Raleigh Astronomy Club<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Embark on a journey through the cosmic distance ladder to uncover how astronomers measure the vast expanse from our Moon to the most distant galaxies. Discover the ingenious methods and breakthroughs that turned the unknown depths of space into a precisely mapped universe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ron Monti<\/strong><\/p>\n Raleigh Astronomy Club<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Life would be very different on Earth (and might not be possible at all) if it were not for our Moon. Come find out the many reasons why it is so important.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Doug Lively<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n As night falls in the great northern rockies, silent sentinels march across the sky in an endless dance marking the gradual shift from one season to another. Join us for an exploration of the night sky and follow us up onto the \u201cWolf\u2019s Tail\u201d to discover ‘Astronomy at Glacier National Park’.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Tony Verdone<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Raleigh Astronomy Club<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Blue whales are the largest creatures to have ever lived on Earth and are endangered. NASA and NOAA are turning their eyes from the skies, using advanced satellite technology to track these ocean giants across the globe. Their mission: to protect blue whales from deadly ship strikes and ensure their survival for generations to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Doug Lively<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n A look at how lunar science and exploration have advanced since 1969. Learn how the upcoming missions are reshaping our goals for the Moon\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Jeff Qualls<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Check out our update to the Europa Clipper mission that launched in October 2024. Testing of scientific instruments allowed for the March 2025 Mars flyby for a gravitational assist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ken Brandt<\/strong><\/p>\n Robeson Planetarium and Science Center, NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mars continues to provide tantalizing hints that it may have been host to living things and it can be for now. What should happen in order to answer this question?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Alan Rich<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Take a look into the world of monster rockets! We’ll be comparing today’s biggest \u2014 NASA’s SLS and the SpaceX Starship with the legendary Saturn V moon rocket.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Marc Fusco<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Review a banner year in human spaceflight and how things are shaping up for the rest of the decade! SpaceX is leading the way to a new golden era of human spaceflight and is poised to change the dynamics of HSF with their new Starship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Shawn D. Bayle<\/strong><\/p>\n NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Join us for an overview of the history of exoplanet discovery, the Webb Telescope and its orbiting sister observatories. We’ll take a deeper dive into recent discoveries probing the existence of potentially habitable planets and their moons, including the next steps in exoplanetary science.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n SECU Daily Planet Theater – NRC 1-3 11am Abbas Mokhtarzadeh IAUCoNOC USA, NASA\/JPL Solar System Ambassador Celestial Connections: Stories of the Sky for Everyone Join us for an inspiring journey through the night sky, exploring how the stars have shaped cultures, guided daily life and inspired people around the world. Celebrate the contributions of women… Read More ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[],"tribe_events_cat":[38,3,4,5,6,18,8],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/113265"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tribe_events"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113265"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/113265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119161,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/113265\/revisions\/119161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113265"},{"taxonomy":"tribe_events_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events_cat?post=113265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\nCelestial Connections: Stories of the Sky for Everyone<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n12:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nAverting Armageddon<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n2pm<\/h3>\n
\nNASA Is Returning to the Moon\u2014Are You Ready for Artemis?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n3:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nSolar System Smack Down: Mars vs. Venus<\/h3>\n
\nWindows on the World – NEC 3<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n\n\n11:30am<\/h3>\n
\nRemote Observing at AppState’s Dark Sky Observatory<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n12:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nSpaceX and Commercial Space Report 2025<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n2:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nGetting from Here to There<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n3:30pm<\/h3>\n
Alan Rich<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nInterstellar visitors, Dangerous asteroids, Alien planets, and other things lurking up there<\/h3>\n
\nSaturn – NRC 4<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n\n\n11am<\/h3>\n
\nHow We Know What We Know: Measuring Distances Across the Cosmos<\/h3>\n
\n\n\nNoon<\/h3>\n
\nWhat If Our Moon Didn’t Exist?<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n1pm<\/h3>\n
\nAstronomy at Glacier National Park<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n2pm<\/h3>\n
\nWatching Blue Whales from Space!<\/h3>\n
\nUranus – NRC 4<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n11:30am<\/h3>\n
\nThe Moon Then and Now: From Apollo to Artemis and Beyond<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n12:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nEuropa Clipper: Mission to an Ocean World<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n1:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nThe Evidence for Life on Mars<\/h3>\n
\nNeptune – NRC 4<\/h2>\n
\n\n\nNoon<\/h3>\n
\nMonster rockets. Comparing Starship with NASA’s SLS and Saturn V<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n2:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nHuman Spaceflight Report 2025<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n3:30pm<\/h3>\n
\nFinding Another Earth: Discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope<\/h3>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"