Starfest 2009!

Starfest 2009 (PDF) is the Aldrich Astronomical Society's big annual public astronomy event (parking and admission are free, though donations are welcome). It will be held, rain or shine, next Saturday, August 1, from 6 to 10 pm, at Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA, just a short distance from Worcester. In addition to telescopes, demos, and presentations by members, we are also happy to feature a special presentation by Donald Rethke, also known as "Dr. Flush."

Don is a retired engineer from Connecticut who worked on life support systems for the Apollo program, and also on the development of space toilet systems (hence the nickname). I've seen several of Don's presentations at the New England Air Museum, and he is an engaging, educational, and funny speaker. We are happy to welcome Dr. Flush and his collection of space flight paraphenalia for his first Starfest appearance. He will do two presentation sessions, 6:30 and 7:45 pm in the Zecco Performing Arts Center at AMC.

My presentation will be called "The Once and Future Moon" - a brief look back at Apollo at 40, and a briefer look forward at NASA's plans to return to the moon. Naturally it will include a simulated Saturn V launch and Apollo 11 moon landing using Orbiter.