Programs
Every month, the NAA’s regular meeting features a presentation on something related to astronomy or stargazing. The public is welcome to attend, free of charge.
Coming Up
Since 1975
Our Monthly Programs
1975
In May of 1975 the club opened up to public membership and public meetings. The days of being exclusively a student club were over.
1998
The club’s regular monthly meetings moved to the Naperville Municipal Center.
2002
Our club held its first fundraiser auction in 2002, to raise money to build the DuPage Valley Observatory. It turned out to be so much fun that we ended up making it an annual event, now the program for the August monthly meeting.
2009
The NAA was in its 35th year of presenting free monthly meeting programs open to the general public.
2013
The NAA’s first webinar, on Spectroscopy, by spectroscopy software engineer Tom Field, was a great success at the November regular meeting. Tom broadcast to us from Seattle.
2020
The club adapted by moving monthly programs and some observing events to live online streaming.
2021
The August General Meeting was our first program to return to live in-person meetings.
2022
We moved our general meeting to Grace Methodist Church, about 1.5 miles south of downtown Naperville.
2026
Starting in January 2026, the General Meeting moved from the first Tuesday to the second Tuesday of the month.
Past Programs
We are looking for a volunteer to continue recording our programs. If you can help, please contact us.
2026
10 Programs · 3 Recordings- Beyond the Museum: Bringing Space Exploration Down to Earth Dr. Voula Saridakis
- Life on Mars: A Cultural History
- Annual Auction
- Exploring the Universe from Antarctica and the Edge of Space Jessica Avva Zebrowski
- The Chirp That Changed Astronomy Dr. Shanika Galaudage
- Exploring the Dynamic Sky with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
- NASA’s Dragonfly: A Whirlybird for Titan Bill Higgins Watch NASA’s Dragonfly: A Whirlybird for Titan (YouTube)
- The Story of Our Solar System Professor Joe DalSanto Watch The Story of Our Solar System (YouTube)
- From Stars to Scans: Cosmic Origins of Medical Imaging Isotopes Dr. Wesley Gohn Watch From Stars to Scans: Cosmic Origins of Medical Imaging Isotopes (YouTube)
- Einstein’s Symphony: Deciphering the Music of Black Holes and Neutron Stars Dr. Michael Zevin
2025
12 Programs · 6 Recordings- Astrophysical Plasmas and Cosmic Rays Dr. Damiano Caprioli
- The Connection Between the Periodic Table and Astronomy Larry Bartoszek Watch The Connection Between the Periodic Table and Astronomy (YouTube)
- Artificial Intelligence in Astronomy Dale Delutri Watch Artificial Intelligence in Astronomy (YouTube)
- Dark matter, Dark energy, & gravitational lensing Daniel Gilman
- Annual Auction
- Neutrino Astronomy in Greenland and Antarctica Philipp Windischhofer, Anna Kofman, Christoph Welling
- Wonders of Webb: Exploring the Universe with JWST James Kovac
- Doane Observatory: Research and Public Outreach Michelle Nichols Watch Doane Observatory: Research and Public Outreach (YouTube)
- The Cosmologist’s Puzzle: The Age and Expansion Rate of the Universe Dr. Tanvi Karwal Watch The Cosmologist’s Puzzle: The Age and Expansion Rate of the Universe (YouTube)
- Exoplanet Atmospheres and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life Michael Zhang Watch Exoplanet Atmospheres and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life (YouTube)
- Returning to the Moon After More Than 50 Years James “Joel” Knapper Watch Returning to the Moon After More Than 50 Years (YouTube)
- Europa Clipper: NASA Investigates an Icy Ocean Bill Higgins
2024
12 Programs · 2 Recordings- Celebrating the Centennial of Planetariums with a Visit to the New Shanghai Astronomy Museum Jim Sweitzer, PhD
- Discovering the Stars Dr. Joe DalSanto
- Babylonian Astronomy Howard Farber
- Wormholes, Spacewarps, and Tunnels to Otherwheres Dr. Shane Larson
- Annual Auction NAA
- The Space Elevator: From Science Fiction to Engineering Larry Bartoszek
- Solving Big Problems with Tiny Experiments-Quantum Sensors for Astrophysics Applications Daniel Baxter
- History of Eclipse Calculations (with Some Math) Dan McGlaun
- Upgrades to the 4m Blanco and Mayall telescopes for DES and DESI Gaston Gutierrez Ph.D.
- Yerkes Observatory: 125 Years of History and a Bright Future Amanda Bauer Ph.D., Head of Science and Education, Yerkes Observatory Watch Yerkes Observatory: 125 Years of History and a Bright Future (YouTube)
- Dark Matter and Tiny Galaxies Dr. Alex Drlica-Wagner
- Lucy's Tour of the Trojan Asteroids Bill Higgins Watch Lucy's Tour of the Trojan Asteroids (YouTube)
2023
12 Programs · 10 Recordings
- What Do "Yellowballs" Have to Do with the Birth of Stars? Grace Wolf-Chase, Ph.D. Watch What Do "Yellowballs" Have to Do with the Birth of Stars? (YouTube)
- Mysteries of the Cosmos: The Search for Alien Life on the Moons of Saturn Jim Kovac
- Walking With AAVSO Giants: A 60's Personal Journey Roger Kolman Ph. D. Watch Walking With AAVSO Giants: A 60's Personal Journey (YouTube)
- Observation of nanoHertz Gravitational Waves Dr. Paul Bloom, Associate Professor of Physics, North Central College Watch Observation of nanoHertz Gravitational Waves (YouTube)
- NAA Annual Auction
- The Mystery of the Siberian Explosion: An Environmental History of the Tunguska Event Andy Bruno, Associate Professor of History and Environmental Studies at Northern Illinois University Watch The Mystery of the Siberian Explosion: An Environmental History of the Tunguska Event (YouTube)
- NASA's Psyche Mission: Electric Voyage to a Metal Asteroid Bill Higgins Watch NASA's Psyche Mission: Electric Voyage to a Metal Asteroid (YouTube)
- The Artemis, NASA's New Rocket Watch The Artemis, NASA's New Rocket (YouTube)
- Space Stations: Past, Present, and Future James Joel Knapper Watch Space Stations: Past, Present, and Future (YouTube)
- Exoplanets in Resonant Chains Daniel Fabrycky Ph.D. Watch Exoplanets in Resonant Chains (YouTube)
- The History of the Universe Starting with the Big Bang Larry Bartoszek Watch The History of the Universe Starting with the Big Bang (YouTube)
- What Did DART Do? NASA's Asteroid-Smasher and Its Paparazzo Companion Watch What Did DART Do? NASA's Asteroid-Smasher and Its Paparazzo Companion (YouTube)
2022
11 Programs · 11 Recordings
- Feeling Small in a Big Cosmos Dr. Shane Larson / CIERA – Northwestern University Watch Feeling Small in a Big Cosmos (YouTube)
- A Hydrogen Line Radio Telescope at Monarch Landing Bob Bullock, Ron Sellberg, Philip Schreiner Watch A Hydrogen Line Radio Telescope at Monarch Landing (YouTube)
- LUVOIR – A Potential Space Telescope, and IIT's Tiny but Crucial Contribution Dr. Tom Roberts, IIT Watch LUVOIR – A Potential Space Telescope, and IIT's Tiny but Crucial Contribution (YouTube)
- An Abundance of Magnetized Radio Filaments in the Center of the Milky Way Galaxy Dr. Farhad Yusef-Zadeh Watch An Abundance of Magnetized Radio Filaments in the Center of the Milky Way Galaxy (YouTube)
- At the Edge of Time: Exploring Our Universe's First Seconds Dan Hooper Watch At the Edge of Time: Exploring Our Universe's First Seconds (YouTube)
- Listening to Black Holes Dr. Maya Fishbach Watch Listening to Black Holes (YouTube)
- Finding the First Stars with the James Webb Space Telescope Brian Welch Watch Finding the First Stars with the James Webb Space Telescope (YouTube)
- When Galaxies Collide Bhasker Moorthy Watch When Galaxies Collide (YouTube)
- State of the Astronomy Industry Greg Bragg Watch State of the Astronomy Industry (YouTube)
- Cosmology is Gravity Jim Annis Watch Cosmology is Gravity (YouTube)
- The Planets in 2022 Jeffrey Hunt Watch The Planets in 2022 (YouTube)
2021
12 Programs · 11 Recordings
- Finding Dark Skies Adam Kreuzer and Ken Walczak Watch Finding Dark Skies (YouTube)
- Mysteries of the Cosmos: the search for Alien Life on the Moons of Jupiter and Saturn Jim Kovac
- GW190814: the Kilonova that Wasn't Dr. Douglas Tucker Watch GW190814: the Kilonova that Wasn't (YouTube)
- The ABC's of the LSST GMT at the RFCML! Dean Ketelsen Watch The ABC's of the LSST GMT at the RFCML! (YouTube)
- Mars Rovers: Class of 2021 Bill Higgins Watch Mars Rovers: Class of 2021 (YouTube)
- Re-thinking "Water-Worlds" Dr. Pamela L. Gay Watch Re-thinking "Water-Worlds" (YouTube)
- The High School Mathematics and Physics Behind Dark Matter Mark Christensen Watch The High School Mathematics and Physics Behind Dark Matter (YouTube)
- Over a Century of Cosmic Particle Acceleration Dr. Damiano Caprioli Watch Over a Century of Cosmic Particle Acceleration (YouTube)
- Mars Settlement Simulation Rhiannon Blaauw-Erskine, et. al. Watch Mars Settlement Simulation (YouTube)
- A Virtual Tour of Fermilab's Silicon Detector Facility Donna Kubik Watch A Virtual Tour of Fermilab's Silicon Detector Facility (YouTube)
- The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory and Elgin U-46 Planetarium: 110 years and counting Peggy Hernandez Watch The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory and Elgin U-46 Planetarium: 110 years and counting (YouTube)
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey Larry Bartoszek Watch Sloan Digital Sky Survey (YouTube)
2020
12 Programs · 8 Recordings
- The Great Telescope of Birr Castle: How a 19th-Century Irish Family Changed Astronomy Bill Higgins Watch The Great Telescope of Birr Castle: How a 19th-Century Irish Family Changed Astronomy (YouTube)
- The Origin of the LSST: a deep time look at a brand new huge telescope Jim Annis Watch The Origin of the LSST: a deep time look at a brand new huge telescope (YouTube)
- Protecting Future Dark Skies: A Report from the Satellite Frontline Charles Lee Mudd Jr. Watch Protecting Future Dark Skies: A Report from the Satellite Frontline (YouTube)
- Clear Skies: A Meteorology Crash Course for Astronomers AJ Poelarends Watch Clear Skies: A Meteorology Crash Course for Astronomers (YouTube)
- Fantastic Space Discoveries: The Search for Planet 9 Jim Kovac
- The Connection Between the Periodic Table and Astronomy Larry Bartoszek Watch The Connection Between the Periodic Table and Astronomy (YouTube)
- Apollo Dr. Joseph DalSanto Watch Apollo (YouTube)
- The Hubble Palette – Mapped Colors of Emission Nebula: A Live Demonstration Eric Coles Watch The Hubble Palette – Mapped Colors of Emission Nebula: A Live Demonstration (YouTube)
- Women in NASA James "Joel" Knapper Watch Women in NASA (YouTube)
- Versatility of CCDs Donna Kubik
- Mysteries of the Cosmos: The Search for Alien Life Jim Kovac
- The Leslie C. Peltier Award of the Astronomical League Roger Kolman
2019
8 Programs
- Shooting Stars: Understanding and Observing Meteors Drew Carhart
- Beyond Pluto to Ultima Thule Bill Higgins
- Exploring the Solar System's Smallest Objects Kevin Cole, Harper College
- The Milky Way Project: Probling Star Formation with a New Yellowball Catalog Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase, Adler Planetarium
- SOLITUDE IN THE COSMOS: Looking for Friends in the Great Cosmic Dark Prof. Shane Larson, Northwestern University
- How the Sun Got Here Roger Kolman, AAVSO, NAA
- Comparing the Hubble & Webb Space Telescopes Dean Mikolajczyk, presenter, Cernan Earth and Space Center
- -MEETING DATE CHANGE- Program: Exoplanets Close to Their Stars Daniel Fabrycky, U. of Chicago
2018
12 Programs
- Exoplanets Close to Their Stars Daniel Fabrycky, U. of Chicago
- The Early Astrophotography Methods & Equipment Christopher Olsen, Fermilab
- How The Sun Got Here Roger Kolman, AAVSO , NAA
- NASA & the Meteoroid Environment Rhiannon Blaauw, Wheaton College
- Our Annual Fundraising Auction
- NASA vs Space X Dean Mikolajczyk, Triton College
- NASA Mission Update Joel Knapper NASA Solar System Ambassador
- The Possibilities of Life on Mars and Venus James Kovac, NASA Solar System Ambassador
- Latest DES Findings Douglas Tucker, Fermilab
- Science During The Eclipse Mark Adams, U. of Illinois Chicago
- How do you get a neutron binary star? Arend J. Poelarends Wheaton College
- LIGO and the Discovery of Gravity Waves Prof. Shane Larson, <a href=
2017
12 Programs
- The Meteoroid Environment and the Space Program Rhiannon Blaauw, Wheaton College
- Intergalactic Transfer Research Zachary Hafen, Northwestern University
- Exploring the Development of Massive Stellar Nurseries Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase
- The South Pole Telescope Donna Kubik, Fermilab Center for Particle Astrophysics
- Annual Auction
- The Cassini Mission: Review and Grand Finale Joseph DalSanto, College of DuPage
- Spheres of Influence James Holstein, Collections Manager for Meteorites and Physical Geology, Field Museum
- Preparing to do Astrophysics in the Age of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Prof. Matt Wiesner, Benedictine University
- The Glory of the Northern Lights, seen in Yellowknife, Canada Dr. José Francisco Salgado
- Tension in the Universe: Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and Different Numbers Dr. Dan Scolnic, KICP and Hubble Fellow
- Mysteries of the Cosmos: Ultimate Fate of the Universe Jim Kovac
- Chasing shadows—Why observe occultations? Robert Dunford, Argonne National Laboratory atomic physicist and NAA member
2016
12 Programs
- Binary Stars: From Beauty to Complexity Dr. A. J. (Arend J.) Poelarends, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Wheaton College
- Neutrinos: Messengers from a Violent Universe Alex Himmel, experimental particle physicist, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
- Black Holes & Gravitational Waves: LIGO's New View of the Cosmos Shane Larson, research associate professor of physics, Northwestern University (CIERA); astronomer, Adler Planetarium
- Playback from Pluto: Recent News from NASA's New Horizons Spacecraft Bill Higgins (long-time NAA member), radiation safety physicist, Fermilab
- Monthly Meeting
- Seeing all the photons all the time Chris Stoughton, Fermilab astrophysicist
- Unveiling the Universe at Radio Wavelengths Prof. Farhad Zadeh, Northwestern University
- Members' Amateur Telescope Projects Tim Baker; Steve Sagarian (members)
- the development of Objects in the Heavens Peter Birren, local amateur and graphic designer, author of Objects in the Heavens
- The Architecture of the Cosmos: Building Galaxies on Invisible Foundations Dr. Elise Jennings, research associate, astrophysics theory group, Fermi National Laboratory
- The Universe at an Exhibition Dr. José Francisco Salgado, astronomer, public speaker, and media artist
- Mysteries of the Cosmos—Beyond the Big Bang Jim Kovac, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador; Speakers Bureau, Chicago Society for Space Studies
2015
12 Programs
- The Infrared Universe: Discoveries of the Spitzer Telescope Joe Dal Santo (member; College of DuPage astronomy teacher)
- The Search for Life in the Universe Lucianne Walkowicz, Adler Planetarium
- Latest from the New Horizons Pluto Mission Michelle Nichols, Master Educator, Adler Planetarium
- the findings of the AAVSO ZCAMpaign Dr. Roger Kolman (NAA member; AAVSO)
- Monthly Meeting
- Perpetual Twilight: Light Pollution and the Future of Stargazing Drew Carhart (club past-president; founding member of the NAA and the Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting)
- Vandals from the Void: Damaging Meteors from Chelyabinsk to Chicago William S. (Bill) Higgins (club member), radiation safety physicist, Fermilab
- Searching for Dark Matter with Fermilab's DAMIC Experiment Greg Derylo (NAA member), Fermilab
- Shedding Infrared Light on the Mysteries of Star Birth Grace Wolf-Chase, Astronomer at the Adler Planetarium
- Gamma Rays, Shining Stars…And the Hulk Robert V.F. Janssens and K. Ernst Rehm, Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory
- Science, Symphony, and the Northern Lights José Francisco Salgado, PhD, astronomer and science visualizer, Adler Planetarium
- Dark Energy Camera (DECam) Professor Steve Kent, University of Chicago and Fermilab
2014
10 Programs
- The Latest on Exoplanets Prof. Yoram Lithwick, Northwestern University
- Monsters at Galaxies' Cores Prof. Laura Trouille, Research Astronomer at the Adler Planetarium and CIERA Fellow with Northwestern University
- the breakup of the host asteroid of the L chondrites, studied with fossil meteorites Dr. Philipp R. Heck, Robert A. Pritzker Curator of Meteoritics and Polar Studies, Field Museum of Natural History
- What Variable Stars Tell Us Dr. Roger Kolman (NAA member; AAVSO)
- Monthly Meeting
- Dark Energy, Dark Matter…OR Was Einstein Wrong? Prof. Scott Dodelson, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory / University of Chicago
- The Latest on the Kepler Mission Prof. Jason Steffen, Northwestern University
- Hubble's Universe: The Latest Research and Imagery Prof. David Meyer, Northwestern University
- Shedding Light on Dark Energy Dr. Marcelle Soares-Santos, Fermilab
- To Explode or Not to Explode: Recent Supernova Research Professor Arend J. Poelarends, Wheaton College
2013
11 Programs
- devastating impacts that drastically changed the Earth's climate James Holstein, Collection Manager of Meteoritics and Physical Geology, Field Museum
- Spectroscopy Tom Field, Field Tested Systems; Contributing Editor, Sky & Telescope
- recent discoveries of extra-solar planets Jim Kovac, NASA Ambassador
- An Astronomer Talks About Astronomy's Future Shane Larson, Research Associate Professor, Northwestern University
- trip to Norway to observe the Northern Lights; astronomy trip opportunities Rick Gering (club member)
- an overview of the science of meteoritics Drew Carhart
- The Drake Equation: Little Green Men, Exoplanets, and Scientific Progress Scott Thompson (club member)
- Mars Science Laboratory – a.k.a. "Curiosity" Michelle Nichols, Adler Planetarium Master Educator
- latest news from the core of our Milky Way galaxy Professor Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, Northwestern University
- Monthly Meeting
- seven overlapping methods used by astronomers to measure distance in space Jim Hopkins
2012
12 Programs
- NASA's future plans for launching astronauts into space Joel Knapper, NASA Solar System Ambassador
- Mars in 3D Maryl Fisher
- the Dark Energy Survey Dr. Marcelle Soares-Santos, Research Associate at the Fermilab Center for Particle Astrophysics
- Annual Club Auction; astronomy travels to Southern Utah: observing the Transit of Venus; observing the May annual eclipse Drew Carhart; Maryl Fisher; auctioneer Tom Filipski
- SETI Bill Higgins
- Monthly Meeting
- Monthly Meeting
- Transits of Venus Chuck Bueter, who runs the website transitofvenus.org
- The Origin of the Elements and The Evolution of the Composition of the Cosmos Prof. James Truran of the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory
- tools … to explore this data [scientific visualization of supercomputer simulations] Joseph Insley, principal software developer at Argonne National Laboratory
- how she chooses from an ever increasing assortment of tools to share modern astronomy Katie Peterson, digital content producer at the Adler Planetarium
- nucleosynthesis Professor James W. Truran of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at The University of Chicago
2011
11 Programs
- the visual observation of the brightness of variable stars Roger Kolman, member; AAVSO member since 1962 and Council member
- Timely Travels: dark sky starparty; astro-events of 2012; Observer's Corner virtual tour of the fall skies Jim Hopkins; Rick Gering; Mitch Gerdisch
- Searching for Dark Matter in a Bubble Chamber Dr. Hugh Lippincott, Lederman Fellow at the Fermilab Center for Particle Astrophysics
- the amazing Mr. Reber and his pioneering work Bill Higgins, long-time NAA member and Fermilab physicist
- travelogue video of … the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Mission STS-131; annual fundraising auction Steve Miller, club president
- The Hooper Ranch Pueblo Sun Dagger Shrine Solstice Marker John A. Ruskamp, Ed.D.
- The Exciting Cosmic Microwave Background Donna Kubik from Fermilab
- "Zooniverse" … project to locate stellar nurseries Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase from Adler Planetarium
- the Space Shuttle program: memorable missions … and how American astronauts will return to space Joel Knapper, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and NAA member
- two leading ideas … to explain the origin of the X-rays [from the Galactic nucleus] Prof. Farhad Yusef-Zadeh from Northwestern University
- magnetic reconnection Dr. Darren Craig from Wheaton College
2010
12 Programs
- Presolar Dust Grains From Meteorites Dr. Philipp Heck, Robert A. Pritzker Assistant Curator of Meteoritics and Polar Studies at the The Field Museum of Natural History
- the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation … methods used to study Donna Kubik, NAA member & Fermilab employee
- mapping the Milky Way's magnetic field / star formation (BLAST-Pol, Antarctica) Professor Giles Novak of Northwestern University's Department of Physics and Astronomy
- travelogue … to view … a total solar eclipse; annual club fundraising auction Rick Gering
- the nebulous boundary where scientific visualization and art overlap in astronomy Dr. José-Francisco Salgado of the Adler Planetarium
- tour of the new Version 3 of SkyTools Professional edition Jim Hopkins
- stories of Sir William [Herschel]'s life and achievements Dr. Marvin Bolt of the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
- the IBEX mission … development of a public outreach program Michelle Nichols, Adler Master Educator
- the Sloan Digital Sky Survey … how to manage terabytes of data Dr. Chris Stoughton, in charge of data processing and distribution for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- Cassini mission update John Vittallo, JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador
- avenues of research which we amateurs can contribute to Igor Rafalovsky
- the fundamentals of relativity … the theory of gravitation Todd Livesey
2009
12 Programs
- up-to-the-minute report on … the core of our Milky Way galaxy Dr. Farhad Zadeh from Northwestern University
- Monthly Meeting
- total solar eclipse in China; annual auction Maryl Freestone
- Supernova Remnants and Superbubbles Thomas Brian Humensky of the University of Chicago Enrico Fermi Institute
- The Star Next Door Drew Carhart
- overview of variable star observing; cataclysmic variables Dr. Roger Kolman, past Executive Council member and current Education Committee member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers
- Astronauts, Cosmic Rays, Solar Wind, and Magnetic Fields Dr. Eugene Parker, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Physics at University of Chicago
- The end of dark ages and other stories Dr. Nick Gnedin from the University of Chicago and Fermilab
- How antimatter became a plaything of science fiction Bill Higgins, NAA member and Fermilab employee
- the latest news from the hunt for planets orbiting other stars Jim Hopkins, Adjunct Professor of Natural Science at Joliet Junior College, member of the NAA and the Calumet Astronomical Society
- Monthly Meeting Dr. Robert Rosner, Director of [Argonne] National Laboratory; William E. Wrather Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The University of Chicago
- updates from the field of planetary geology Paul Stoddard, Associate Professor at Northern Illinois University
2008
12 Programs
- Why Is the Night So Bright? Drew Carhart (NAA co-founder)
- Dark matter and the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Dan Bauer (particle astrophysicist; project manager for Fermilab’s Cryogenic Dark Matter Search)
- Andromeda’s Neighborhood; national League convention recap; Annual Auction Maryl Freestone; Ken Timmons (Astronomical League Correspondent)
- New Horizons mission Bill Higgins (NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador)
- Amateur Astro-Research Matt Mills (associate at the Greiner Research Observatory)
- Field Trip to the Outer Planets Jim Kovac (NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador)
- The Size of Things: How Big is Space? Drew Carhart (outgoing NAA president)
- Dark Matter Dan Hooper (Fellow in the theoretical astrophysics group at Fermilab)
- Black Holes Dr. Farhad Zadeh (Northwestern University)
- The Birth of Stars Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase (University of Chicago & Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum)
- Genesis and Stardust Updates Mike Savina (Argonne National Laboratory); Thomas Stephan (The University of Chicago)
- Cosmic Rays Peter O. Mazur (Pierre Auger Observatory development team)
2007
12 Programs
- South Pole Telescope Stephen Padin (University of Chicago)
- Mars Imaging Jim Plaxco (Chicago Society for Space Studies; JPL solar system ambassador)
- Review of the Astronomy Education Center; Annual Auction Drew Carhart (President)
- Nuclear Cosmology and the abundance of elements Ernst Rehm (Argonne National Laboratory)
- Galaxy Clusters! Prof. Melville P. Ulmer (Northwestern University)
- Mirror Testing at Home John Abrahamian
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey results and future surveys Dr. Stephen Kent (Sloan Digital Sky Survey)
- Discovery of early telescopes Dr. Marvin Bolt (Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum)
- Impacts and cratering Jim Hopkins (NAA member and Kankakee Area Stargazers president)
- Amateur/professional collaborations and RR Lyrae variable star research Dr. Pamela Gay (Southern Illinois University)
- Remote Astronomical Society Observatory in New Mexico Tom Pappalardo (Chicago Astronomical Society member)
- Physics in Freefall Lynne Zielinski (Glenbrook North H.S. teacher)
2006
12 Programs
- Venus' geology Dr. Paul Stoddard (NIU)
- Genesis mission sample salvage update Dr. Mike Savina (Argonne National Laboratory)
- Video imaging overview; Annual Auction Drew Carhart
- Who Needs Planets? NASA's Missions to Other Places Bill Higgins (NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador; radiation safety physicist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory)
- Cosmic Rays and space travel Dr. Eugene Parker (Professor Emeritus of the Department of Physics at University of Chicago)
- Astronomical Journeys Maryl Freestone; Debra Pearl-Lazar; Drew Carhart (members)
- Relativity 101 Herb Schulz (member)
- SETI and the Allen Telescope Array Dr. Jill Tarter (Director of the SETI Institute’s Center for SETI Research)
- Meteorites and Antarctic meteorite hunting Dr. Paul Sipiera (Planetary Studies Foundation)
- Spectrashift Project Tom Kay
- Stellar Exotica in Globular Clusters Dr. Craig Heinke (Lindheimer Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University)
- Searching for Asteroids in the Digital Age Grace Lindsay (N.A.A. member)
2005
12 Programs
- Exploring Our Future in Space Panel: David Matthews (retired nuclear engineer and Mercury program test engineer); Michelle Nichols (Lead Educator, Adler Planetarium and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador); Bill Higgins (National Space Society board member and NASA/JPL S.S.A.)
- Beyond Einstein: The Dark Side of the Universe Dr. Edward “Rocky” Kolb (director of the Fermilab Particle Astrophysics Center; Professor, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago)
- Observing Variable Stars; Annual Auction Roger Kolman (AAVSO)
- Star Bowl teams of volunteer contestants
- Cassini & Huygens Mission to Saturn Bill Higgins (NASA Solar System Ambassador)
- It's About Time Larry Jahn (NAA Program Chairman), with panelists
- Through a Glass, Clearly: Science and Education at Williams Bay Professor Kyle M. Cudworth (Yerkes Director)
- Collecting Meteorites Todd and Mary Lynne Johnson (meteorite collectors)
- Spying on the Massive Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy Dr. Yousef-Farhad Zadeh (Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University)
- Solar observation Drew Carhart (club secretary & librarian)
- Members' astrophotography showcase NAA members
- Adaptive Optics: the Hope, the Hype, and the Reality Dr. Michael Smutko (Lecturer in Physics & Astronomy at Northwestern; Astronomer at the Adler Planetarium)