Impact craters can be found throughout the solar system. NASA scientists use impact craters and volcanic activity to learn about the process throughout the solar system. By studying craters on Earth, scientists gain knowledge of volcanic landform formation and modification made by impacting bodies. In northern Quebec, Canada, the Clearwater site is actually two craters from a rare binary impact. The site contains one of the best records of impact melt rocks and breccias among impact sites. These clues provide information on Impact Rock Modification. The goal of the research is to understand the nature and formation of impact melts, breccias and effect of volatiles delivered by an impactor. Please Join us for our March fundamentals talk, where we will explore the known impact craters on earth and their characteristics. Their geology and causes will be evaluated as well as the dating of the impacts using Chronological Record research. Our presenter, NAA Club Member Jim Hopkins, will also examine several objects in the solar system and how craters may have formed there. Jim will highlight the physics of crater formation.
September ’25 – Rick’s Picks
Transient Events That Can Give Us a Good Enough Reason To Get Outside and Do a Little Observing All month: the early evening sky is still bereft of planets this month, other than unimpressive mag +1.6 Mars, now just 4” across, and it too will disappear into the sunset...
August ’25 – Rick’s Picks
Transient Events That Can Give Us a Good Enough Reason to Get Outside and Do a Little Observing All month: Mars continues to have the evening sky to itself this month, but it doesn’t make much use of it, setting just after 10 pm (less than 2 hours after the Sun) as...
Neutrino Astronomy In Greenland and Antartica
Not all telescopes use light to observe the universe. Some, like ice cubes, the RadioNeutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G) and the Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO) look for neutrinos from distant, extragalactic sources by detecting their...
Astronomy Fundamentals: What Possessed You to Build Your Own Telescope
Amateur astronomy used to be associated with making your own telescope. Stellafane in Vermont still pays homage to the art of telescope making and is approaching its 90th year. However, with the availability of mass produced mirrors, lenses, and complete telescopes,...