Astro 101: Celestial Tales 1: The Winter Giants

This event is one of several introductions to astronomy offered by SJAA. During this hour, we'll regale you with the Winter chapter of a four-part expedition across the seasons. We'll share stories told about the stars in the night sky, journeying from ancestral tales to the rituals that shaped civilization. We’ll walk in the footsteps of the pioneers, legends, rebels, and geniuses who paved the way for modern astronomy: Aristarchus who's radical thinking got ahead of accepted science by 2000 years, Hypatia the master of the ‘cosmic clock’, and Annie Cannon who decoded the colors of the stars. These stories illuminate the awe and wonder that eventually converged into modern science.

We'll take the first 15 minutes to give a short tour of the night sky using the planetarium software Stellarium. The talk will start at 7:15.

Celestial Tales will be presented by Rashi Girdhar, a seasoned backyard astronomer and longtime SJAA member with a deep fascination for outer space, both science and history. Join us as we reclaim the lessons of the past to better understand our place in the cosmos. Through this seasonal series and our other SJAA sessions, you will truly become a Celestial Explorer. Bring your curiosity; we’ll provide the universe!

Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/

This event is an on-line Zoom event, complementing our in-person events in Houge Park.

Title image generated via AI by Rashi Girdhar for Celestial Tales.