Saturday Evening Astronomy Talks & Telescopes Viewing : AUGUST 26, 2023

Astronomy is more than just observing; it's making sense of those observations. A good theorist needs to blend a knowledge of what’s been observed, with a good imagination... and no fear of being wrong. Ptolemy in ancient Rome, the medieval bishops Oresme and Cusa, the 19th-century astronomers Schiaparelli and Pickering, all rose to the challenge; and they were all almost correct. Which is to say, they were wrong... sometimes hilariously, sometimes heartbreakingly so. What lessons can 21st-century astronomers take from these discarded images of the universe?

Evening Schedule:

• The night begins at 5:30 PM with a talk given by our featured speaker.
• Immediately after the talk, there will be time to picnic at the tables provided.  Bring your own food, or order dinner from the food truck that will be available. 
• Once it is dark, attendees can view the night sky until 11:30 PM through both the 60- and 100-inch telescopes (you can leave at any point in the evening).
• The Los Angeles Astronomical Society will have its telescopes set up around the grounds for viewing different night sky objects.