Since we can’t have astronomy night on campus, Cultural Affairs is bringing an exciting astronomy event to you on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 6:30pm.

“Cosmic Distances of the Summer Sky, as Viewed from your own Backyard” with Astrophysics Educator Brian Levine and Astronomer Irene Pease, both associated with the Hayden Planetarium will highlight constellations and planets in the night sky and tour around the solar system and galaxy.

This fast-moving program will come to you as a webinar via zoom and is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Just click: https://sunyorange.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pg-izxpSQwq3F308jotDyA. After you register, you will receive a zoom invitation.

The presentation will start with a night sky view via Stellarium of the Moon, stars, and planets. Then the presenters will switch to PowerPoint slides and OpenSpace, where they will discuss measuring distances to celestial objects that are further and further away. Finally, a short night-sky talk will cap the evening and describe “what to see in tonight's sky.” Pease will be explaining while operating OpenSpace visualization software live to show views of the solar system, galaxy, and beyond. She will also offer tips on how you can see more viewings.

Brian Levine and Irene Pease have both given in-person presentations at SUNY Orange in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and are happy to be coming back to share their knowledge.

Levine holds a BS in Astronomy and Astrophysics from SUNY Stony Brook and an MS in SciEd from Oregon State University. He is the youth programs manager/astrophysics educator at Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History [AMNH], vice-president of the NYC Museum Educators Roundtable, and host/producer of Astronomy on Tap NYC.

Pease holds a BA in Physics from University of Arizona. At the AMNH/Hayden Planetarium, she is a Hayden Associate and producer for Skylight and pilot of Zeiss Mark IX Universarium. She is also an adjunct lecturer at York CUNY and a physics teacher at Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. In addition, she is immediate past-president of Amateur Astronomers Association of NY and is Brooklyn's Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer.

Come to this fun and educational early evening presentation via your electronic device.

Images info from top to bottom: "Mars Close Approach - April 2014" by NASA/JPL-Caltech; Brian Levine by Matt Shanley/AMNH; Irene Pease by Cecilia Almeida; "Our Solar System" by NASA/JPL.