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Scheduled Presentations Friday 2:00 p.m. - The Anatomy of a Meade 16" SC Telescope - Robert Karas, Amateur Astronomer
and Experienced Astrophotographer . Robert will, with the aid of a slide show, describe in entertaining detail; the trials
and tribulations of purchasing, resolving frustrating engineering defects, making mechanical alterations, and ultimately constructing
a portable equatorial mounting for the precision acquisition of quality video and CCD imagery. This project proved to be a
daunting task which took several years to complete, but ultimately yielded outstanding results. This presentation is intended
to inspire and motivate individuals to pursue their own projects with determination and passion. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - NASA’s Space Shuttle Program; A Look Back and To the Future - Joel Knapper;
NASA Ambassador and Amateur Astronomer. Since 1981, NASA’s Space Shuttles have transported 355 astronauts into space.
Now, after 30 years, the Space Shuttle program is coming to an end. Joel will take a look back at the most memorable missions
of the past, as well as looking forward to how astronauts will return to space in the future. Saturday 2:00 p.m. - Project Cassini and a Visit to Saturn - Kevin Cole, NASA Solar System Educator
Fellow, Harper College, Palatine, IL. This presentation will introduce the audience to the Cassini Mission to Saturn, now
in its 6th year. Kevin will begin with an introduction to the astronomy of Saturn through the observations of Galileo and
Christian Huygens, followed by an overview of the Voyager mission to Saturn. Then on to the Cassini mission itself; reviewing
the dual spacecraft design (orbiter and Titan probe) and the journey to Saturn, which included a flyby of Jupiter when the
Galileo spacecraft was still operational. This orbital survey of Saturn has more discoveries than can possibly be covered
in a one hour presentation, so Kevin will focus on some of the more interesting aspects: Titan and Enceladus. Titan, the second
largest moon in the solar system, and Enceladus, one of the smaller spherical moons, have provided a wealth of surprises and
discoveries that are worth going into detail about. Kevin will close with a unique view of Earth, taken thru the rings of
Saturn by the Cassini orbiter.
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