Join Shane L. Larson, astronomer, professor, and associate director of CIERA, to learn about the history of our understanding of the moon and our imagined futures of exploring and returning there.
As our closest celestial neighbor, the moon has occupied a special place in the mind of humanity, playing special roles in our time-keeping, folklore, scientific understanding of the Cosmos, and quest to step beyond the shores of Earth. It is close enough that we can easily see its influence on our planet every day through tides and the illumination of the night. Its study is not solely the domain of professional astronomers; ordinary citizens can moon-gaze from their own backyards. Despite this close proximity, there are still many questions we have about the moon, ranging from its origin and composition to speculation of when ordinary people will be able to go there as easily as we can go to Iowa.
Larson will discuss some of the observational history of the moon, our current thinking about the moon and its importance to Earth, and our aspirations for the future of lunar exploration.
This program will be presented using Zoom. Participants must register and provide a working email address to receive the login information.
The Main Library is located in downtown Mount Prospect, next to Village Hall. The building houses an extensive collection of materials, spaces for quiet and collaborative work, several program rooms, public computers, a dedicated teen space, and engaging play area for children.
For a comprehensive list of all services available at the Main Library, please visit the library website.
