"For years our program has aimed not only to present the progress of astronomy, but to give an opportunity to our members to hear, see, and visit with eminent scientists who actually are contributing to the ever-widening horizon of our knowledge of the universe. ”
1947 quote from club founder Dr. Jason J. Nassau
The Cleveland Astronomical Society
LECTURE NEWS: MEETINGS:
2026 - 2027
The Cleveland Astronomical Society Lecture Series
has announced the lineup of speakers for the 105th Season.
December 3, 2026 Speaker: Dr. Heidi B. Hammel Title: Exploring Uranus and Neptune: New Views of the Ice Giants
DESCRIPTION: During the late 1980s, our understanding of the local ice giants - Uranus and Neptune - was revolutionized by detailed images taken by the Voyager spacecraft. However, those images were static: brief snapshots in time of complex and dynamic systems. Recently, our knowledge of these giant planets has undergone striking new advances. In this talk, Dr. Heidi B. Hammel will bring you up to date on these planets, discussing results from the James Webb Space Telescopes, Hubble Space Telescope, the Keck 10-m telescope, and many other observations. You will leave this talk with a new view of the most distant giant planets in our Solar System.
Bio: Dr. Heidi B. Hammel is the Vice President for Science at the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which operates world-class astronomical observatories for the US government. She received her undergraduate degree from MIT and her Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii. In her 30-year career as a planetary astronomer, her research has touched on many facets of planetary science and astrophysics, but she has a special fascination for Uranus and Neptune. Dr. Hammel served as an Interdisciplinary Scientist advising NASA on science development of the James Webb Space Telescope. Dr. Hammel has also been lauded for her work in public outreach, including the Sagan Medal for outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public and the San Francisco Exploratorium's Public Understanding of Science Award. Asteroid "1981 EC20" has been renamed 3530 Hammel in her honor.
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