Monthly Meeting

Location: Streamed online.

“Clear Skies!” — that’s how many astronomers end their emails to fellow astronomers. It immediately shows how connected astronomy and meteorology are. In this talk AJ will discuss several meteorological parameters (beyond the information that you get from the very helpful clear sky charts) that are important for astronomers to consider when they prepare for observations, such as dewpoint/humidity, cloud cover, Jetstream, etc. He’ll also discuss some more advanced meteorological tools, such as, visible, IR and water vapor satellite images, upper air soundings, forecast models, and much more. AJ will also discuss my favorite websites for meteorological information. As a bonus, he will share some footage of high altitude/weather balloons that he’s flown out of the Black Hills (SD) for several years.

Dr. Arend Jan (AJ) Poelarends grew up in the Netherlands, where he studied Astronomy and Physics at Utrecht University. Eventually he ended up at Wheaton College, where he now teaches in these fields. As a life-long astronomer he has also always been fascinated by the weather, and even was a certified weather spotter for the NWS in Saint Louis for a while. One of his favorite courses is called “Dakota Skies”, a course on astronomy and the weather, which he teaches every summer at the Wheaton College Science Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The skies there are magnificent, both during the day and at night.

This event is open to the public and free of charge.