Special Lectures & Events

SPECIAL METEORITE LECTURE

Friday, 13 October, 7 p.m.

Presentation by Anthony Love (Appalachian State University)

Minerals in Meteorites: the Elemental Encyclopedia of Early Solar System History

Planetary scientists use minerals within meteorites to decipher the early history of our solar system. Compositions of these materials inform our understanding of their initial formation conditions and geologic processes that have occurred on their parent body asteroids or planets.

Reflectance spectra from ground based instruments inform our inventory of the materials of the asteroid belt while isotopic data provides fingerprinting which connects these samples to their parent body planets and asteroids.

Isotopic data also constrains the chronology of these events to inform us about the history of solar system solids. New data collected by rendezvous/sample return missions is essential in confirming the lack of terrestrial contamination and the presence of a host of organic compounds occurring on early-formed asteroids.

Anthony Love is the research operations manager for the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Appalachian State University. He has been studying and classifying meteorites since 2009. He is a regular contributor to the meteoritical bulletin and samples characterized at Appalachian State have been sought after and utilized in studies for further understanding of solar system processes. Anthony has also been a collaborator with PARI and worked with staff on a variety of volunteer projects.

This even is made possible through a partnership of Cline Observatory with the Central North Carolina Section of the American Chemical Society.

*TRI*STAR*

The Triad Starfest, *Tri*Star* for short, is a conference of astronomers of all types, from novice to professional, for a full day of presentations, displays, and observing. The event allows astronomy enthusiasts to share ideas, learn about a range of astronomical topics, get together with old friends, and make new ones. The event draws astronomers from North Carolina and surrounding states.  *Tri*Star* is free and open to anyone with an interest in astronomy.

Learn more about TriStar and past events

FALL ASTRONOMY DAY LECTURES

The Cline Observatory Jo Cline Memorial Astronomy Day Lecture is held each fall, featuring a prominent researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, or planetary science.

Learn more about the Astronomy Day Lecture and past events

STELLAR SOCIETY LECTURE – PART OF THE NC SCIENCE FESTIVAL

Each year, typically in April, GTCC’s student astronomy club, the Stellar Society, teams up with Cline Observatory and the GTCC Foundation to present the Stellar Society Lecture, featuring an astronomer from a regional institution to give a free public lecture on a Friday night before our regular public viewing. This event is usually held in conjunction with the North Carolina Science Festival.  

Learn more about the Stellar Society Lecture and past events

NORTH CAROLINA ASTRONOMERS’ MEETING (NCAM)

NCAM is an annual technical meeting that seeks to bring members of the NC professional astronomy community together to network and share research. The meeting usually draws 50+ attendees from institutions around North Carolina and surrounding states. For the past two decades, NCAM has been held annually in late September or early October, and includes a plenary presentation from an invited researcher, short oral sessions scheduled throughout the day, and space for research posters. We especially encourage presentations of student research. The meeting also usually includes two special sessions:  the annual business meeting of the NC Section of the International Dark-sky Association, and a Center for Astronomy Education Regional Teaching Exchange. This event is a scientific conference that is not open to the general public.

Learn more about the NCAM and past events

PAST SPECIAL LECTURES

2021 November 17: Steven Desch, Arizona State University, 1I’Oumuamua: the Nearest Exoplanet? View presentation

2014 August 29: Barbara J. Becker, U. California-Irvine,”William Huggins and the Riddle of the Nebulae”

2013 December 6: Dirk Grupe, Penn State University, "Swift and the Hunt for Gamma Ray Bursts"

2009 throughout the year: International Year of Astronomy Lecture Series – presentations by Dana Hurley, Elisabeth Benchich, Jeffrey Newman, Harry Shipman, Aaron Martin, and Johannes Kepler (portrayed by John McFarland)

2004 fall semester: Mars Mania Lecture Series – presentations associated with the close opposition of Mars, by David Herrick, Jerry Watson, Prasun Desai, and Tom English