Audio By Carbonatix
Just because Pluto was downgraded from full planet status doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to learn from it. NASA’s New Horizons mission was launched in 2006 and is slated to fly by the icy dwarf planet early next year before continuing on to the Kuiper Belt to see what kind of trouble it can get into out there. In the meantime, you space fanatics can get the lowdown on its mission directly from Dr. S. Alan Stern, principal investigator for the mission, at Chautauqua’s New Horizons to the Pluto System.
“He’ll explain the mission itself, the payload, what they’re hoping to do with it and what’s going to happen afterward,” says Tom Hart, program development coordinator for the Colorado Chautauqua Association. “He was very involved with creating some of the scientific instruments aboard New Horizons.” Afterward, there will be twenty minutes or so to ask questions about this mission and future ones, and to find out why Pluto can’t get into all the cool “planets only” parties anymore, just because it’s a little on the small side.
The event happens at 7 p.m. tonight at the Chautauqua Community House, 900 Baseline Road in Boulder. Tickets are $10, or $7 for Chautauqua members. For tickets and information, visit chautauqua.com.
Mon., Dec. 15, 7 p.m., 2014
