Kopernik Public Programs: Summer 2024
In June and July
Doors Open at 8:00 pm | Programs Start at 8:30 pm
In addition to on-site presentations,
Kopernik livestreams these programs on our YouTube Channel
The following programs are on Friday nights unless otherwise noted:
Europa Clipper: Exploration of an Ocean World
Dr. James Roberts Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Friday, July 19, 8:30 pm
Europa, one of the four Galilean satellites, is a rocky world masquerading as an icy moon. Past missions to the Jupiter system have hinted at a global ocean of liquid water under the ice, kept warm by intense tidal forces. Could the ocean hold the ingredients for life? Answering this question is the goal of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, launching this October. As the first mission fully dedicated to an outer planet satellite, Europa Clipper will reveal the nature of this enigmatic world in unprecedented detail, and pave the way for a future landed mission.
Bird Migration and Climate Change
Dave Nicosia – Meteorologist-In-Charge NWS Binghamton
Friday, July 26, 8:30 pm
The talk will cover bird migration and specifically how certain weather patterns favor bird migration. In addition, the talk will discuss when birds veer off course called bird vagrancy and its ties to weather patterns. The talk will discuss the possible effects of climate change on bird populations and the potential effect of renewable energy on bird populations.
Origins, Worlds, and Life: The Next 10 Years of Space Exploration
Zoe Learner Ponteiro, Manager, Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility
Friday,August 2, 8:00 pm
The latest Decadal Survey for Planetary Science and Astrobiology outlines the goals of scientists and steers NASA operations and spending through 2032. Having spent the last three decades exploring and identifying where we should be looking for alien life, we’re now ready to start the search in earnest. Learn about all the upcoming spacecraft missions being developed to answer some of the biggest questions humans have ever asked: Where did we come from, and are we alone in the universe?
Comets and Meteors
Kopernik Staff
Friday, August 9, 8:00 pm
Learn about meteor showers and comets, and how to view them. See images of famous comets and meteor showers and learn about collisions that could devastate the world. Touch a meteorite and see a comet made right in front of your eyes.
Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing – CLEAR ONLY
August 11 & 12, 8:30 pm
The Perseid Meteor Shower is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour! Produced by the Swift-Tuttle comet, these meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and head up to Kopernik’s dark skies for great viewing, especially after midnight. Visit www.kopernik.org or call (607) 748-3685 after 5 p.m. to confirm that Kopernik will be open for viewing.
Laura Intscher – Architect, Secrete Base Design
In the face of climate change, we can have a positive impact on the world by improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of our homes. One way to do this is with natural building materials such as straw bale and earthen plasters. The materials are readily available, easy to use, inexpensive, and have low embodied energy. Straw provides a remarkable level of insulation, with the earthen plasters bringing rich textures and organic beauty. Unlike “modern” construction, which can include toxic chemicals, the time-tested natural methods are safe and healthy. Join architect Laura Intscher of Secret Base Design to learn how and why to build with Straw.Erica DiGiovanni
We rely heavily on plastics for convenience, yet their detrimental effects on our planet and health are often disregarded. This man-made material never truly goes away, it continually breaks down into microplastic particles becoming increasingly harmful at smaller scales. By using a microscope to enlarge and abstract the material, Ms. DiGiovanni create images that resemble celestial scenes, highlighting the intriguing parallels between the microscopic and the cosmic. This visual dichotomy between creation and destruction, beauty and disaster, aims to provoke reflection on the lasting impact of our actions and the urgent need to address their harmful legacies.Dr. Nicholas Guydosh – Kopernik Educator
With the CRISPR gene editing technology, we now have the power to edit & modify genes in human DNA and control human evolution. Is this the start of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”? Only a few years ago, in China, using CRISPR, edited human reproductive genes and created the birth of twins that were immune to HIV/AIDS (including all their future offspring). This violated international medical ethics. If CRISPR is used on NON-reproductive cells such as blood cells, heredity & evolution are not affected, for example, it could cure Sickle cell anemia.Make sure to subscribe to receive notifications of live events.
Public Admission
$6.00 adults
$4.00 seniors/students
$20.00 family maximum
Group rate (10 or more): $4 adult, $3 senior/student
Kopernik / ASTC Passport Members: Free
If the skies are not clear, you will receive a free pass to come back on another night.
You just can’t lose coming to Kopernik on a Friday night.
Public Programs Seasonal Hours
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Months
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Doors Open
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Public Program
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March – May
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7:30 PM
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8:00 PM
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June – July
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8:00 PM
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8:30 PM
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August – November
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7:30 PM
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8:00 PM
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December – February
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6:30 PM
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7:00 PM
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