Kelseyville >> The next Window to the Universe presentation at Taylor Observatory takes place Saturday at 8 p.m. when noted amateur astronomer Eduardo Alatorre will describe the exciting NASA Orion mission to send human beings to Mars.
For generations, the exploration of Mars has captivated the imagination of earthlings, first through speculation about falsely identified canals, then in the science fiction writings of H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and others, and in the broadcast by Orson Welles of a fictional invasion of New Jersey by Martians on Halloween night in 1938. When the Viking 1 and 2 spacecraft landed on Mars in the late 1970s, thoughts of life on the red planet were temporarily dispelled. More recently, the Mars Curiosity lander has re-opened this important question.
The Orion program may provide a definitive answer.
Eduardo Alletorre, a 2014 graduate of Kelseyville High, is Lake County’s expert on the solar system. As a high school assistant under the mentorship of Barbara McIntyre and more recently as a Taylor docent and board member of Friends of Taylor, Alletorre has specialized on solar system exploration. His knowledge of the planets, the space probes and now the Orion program to land a person on Mars is extensive. In addition to Observatory interests, Alletorre attends Mendocino College and is in charge of Taylor’s Spanish Language programs.
If skies are clear on Saturday visitors may view the striking green coma of comet Lovejoy as it exits the solar system on a journey home to the distant Oorts cloud. Lovejoy won’t return for 8,000 years, so it’s the last chance to wave good-bye. The partially illuminated moon is well positioned for observation in the Taylor’s 16 inch telescope this week, and visitors may also be treated to the beautiful Hinds Crimson star in the constellation Lupus, the Hare. As always, visitors are encouraged to request an observation target of particular interest to them.
Admission for the talk, a planetarium show and night sky viewing through the Taylor telescopes is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under and free to observatory members. The location is 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville. For further information visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 262-4121.
Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium organizes the Taylor Lecture series and can be found online at www.friendsoftaylor.org.
