Currently there are no Family Nights organized at Yerkes. We will recusitate this page if the program becomes active again.
Public Webpage: yerkesoutreach.org/family-nights.html
Main Contact: Brittnay Struble
Monday, April 14,2014-Planet Searches and Imagining Aliens! 6:30pm-8:00pm
Astronomers are looking for worlds that could support life. We will imagine the aliens and their strange worlds. How do we search for these worlds? We look for stars that have a dip in the light curve as we keep watch over time. This dip happens when the light from the star is obstructed just a little bit as the planet crosses in front of it from or point of view. We will also introduce you to a planet search opportunity where you can gather your own data of stars that have planets so you can plot the light curves with your own data.
Tuesday, March 11,2014-SOFIA with Sarah Scoles 6:30pm-8pm
Associate editor of Astronomy Magazine Sarah Scoles flew on SOFIA during the summer. SOFIA is also known as the Stratospheric Observatory of Infrared Astronomy. It is a 747 airplane that houses an infrared camera and a reflecting telescope that is 2.5 meters in diameter (100 inches). We will learn about Sarah's experience and maybe see some pictures! There will also be some activities using an infrared camera.
Monday, February 17,2014-Galaxies Galore! 6:30pm-8:00pm
Skipping from comets and asteroids which are in our own Solar System and thus close to home we will explore galaxies which were first called “island universes” each similar or different from our galaxy the Milky Way. Winter is a great time to look for galaxies in the night sky. Andromeda is 2.2 million light years away or so, and a “sister” galaxy to our own. We have been watching a variable star in Andromeda that proved to astronomer Edwin Hubble early in the last century that indeed Andromeda was not a nebula in our own galaxy but a very far away galaxy of its own. Galaxies exist in a variety of forms: spirals, ellipticals, irregulars, and colliding. With your SJS passwords you can make your own collections!
Monday, January 20,2014-Chasing Comets and Asteroids! 6:30pm-8:00pm
Comets and Asteroids - The solar system has lots of objects that are ”moving” across our skies in their orbits which are governed by the gravity of our sun.. We have been taking pictures of Comet Ison with the Yerkes 41 inch this fall. Comet Ison may or may not be spectacular after it sweeps past the Sun in November. If it remains bright, we will want you to learn all about it. Your families will also learn how to take images of asteroids using our telescopes. You will get your very own password so we have to ask you some simple questions on our sign up sheet to makes these passwords ahead of time.
Monday, November 18,2013-Arduino Microcomputer! 6:30pm-8:00pm
Astronomers often use microcomputers for simple tasks in cameras, telescopes and spacecraft. Microcomputers are miniature electronic brains. They are widely used in modern electronics where they control robots, cellphones, game consoles and other toys, cars, microwave ovens and security systems. We will learn to wire up and program such an Arduino microcomputer. Play with various input signals like buttons and sensors for light, temperature and motion. Teach your microcomputer to use colored lights, make sounds or to move. Then use your imagination to make your own circuit such as a robot, a light show, a music play, electronic clothing or connect the controller to the internet. Yerkes engineers will be on hand to help you. Arduino Kits will be for sale if you're interested the kits cost $30.