The Cedar Amateur Astronomers hosts Saturday Public Observing events featuring a guest speaker followed, if weather permits, by celestial viewings through telescopes at the facility. During viewing hours, society members will be available to answer questions and provide everyone with an opportunity to look through the Society’s telescopes.

Cedar Amateur Astronomers 2021 Public Event Schedule:

• May 1, 8:00 p.m. – Sadie Elliott,Graduate Research Assistant, University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy: “New discoveries made by the Juno mission to Jupiter”
  • VIRTUAL MEETING:
  • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81315831810?pwd=cHZNM2x2TmhLN3hVSmxnM1JuTWIrUT09
  • Meeting ID: 813 1583 1810
  • Passcode: 707354
• May 15, 8:30 p.m. – Rachael Filwett , Ph.D.: “Solar energetic particles and their influence on modern society”
  • VIRTUAL MEETING:
  • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89977968566?pwd=TWcvckFpZlhLWVZaeVRMV1hoTUNnQT09
  • Meeting ID: 899 7796 8566
  • Passcode: 985443
• June 12, 8:30 p.m. – Dr. Charles Kerton, Associate professor of astronomy, The Department of Physics & Astronomy at Iowa State University:  “Title: Adventures in Citizen Science or Astronomy for Cloudy Nights”
  • VIRTUAL MEETING:
  • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81271153042?pwd=dlFEclNGYzFwN2RoYU4yUTZZWEJJdz09
  • Meeting ID: 812 7115 3042
  • Passcode: 866470
• July 10, 8:30 p.m. – John Leeson, Cedar Amateur Astronomers Vice President: “Observing the Sky for Beginners”
• July 31, 8:30 p.m. – David Falkner: “The Mythology of the Night Sky”
• August 14, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. – Mr. Carl Bracken, CAA Treasurer: “Our Sun and Solar Activity Cycles” will be presented in person and via Zoom.
  • The presentation will be at noon, then the recorded program will be played back at 3pm. Solar observing using the association’s solar-filter equipped telescope will follow the presentation and again following the 3pm playback. 
  • VIRTUAL OPTION:
  • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88385758938?pwd=NHIxZm5PL3YzN3g0blVzd2VONXFDQT09
  • Meeting ID: 883 8575 8938
  • Passcode: 441322
• August 28, 8:00 p.m. – Riley Troyer, Graduate Research Assistant, President – Connecting Science to Society, Univ. of Iowa Department of Physics & Astronomy:  “Northern Lights in Iowa: a discussion about the aurora, their science, common misconceptions, and the possibility of seeing them here”
• September 25, 7:30 p.m. – Zachary Luppen, PhD Student of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University: “Developing Reusable Rockets to Reach the Moon and Mars: What It’s Like to Work for SpaceX”
• October 16, 7:30 p.m. – Dr. Jasper Halekas, University of Iowa, Department of Physics and Astronomy:  “Earth’s Moon: International Observe the Moon Night” will be presented in person and via Zoom.
  • VIRTUAL OPTION:
  • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87177047150?pwd=V0twWHFOa0hBaEs0QktNL1pJSmNUdz09 
  • Meeting ID: 871 7704 7150
  • Passcode: 559566
• October 30, 7:30 p.m. – Astronomy Professor Larry Molnar believes he can find the unfindable – a star that is about to explode! – “Luminous”
  • VIRTUAL MEETING:
  • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82894303455?pwd=VkZSWkZEdFg3Wm5ZNXFnblY1SWNGZz09 
  • Meeting ID: 828 9430 3455
  • Passcode: 332465
• November 27, 7:30 p.m. – To be announced

The Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center is located at Palisades-Dows Nature Preserve and Observatory on the southeast edge of Palisades-Kepler State Park.  It can be reached by traveling south from Mount Vernon on Highway 1 past the bridge for the Cedar River. Directions to the observatory are indicated by brown State Park signs at the entrances to Ivanhoe Road on Highway 1 and near the observatory’s driveway at 1365 Ivanhoe Road.

Share This Page: