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SLAS Regular Meeting
Friday, May 15, 2015 7:30pm
McDonnell Hall,
Washington University
Opportunity and Water on
the Meridiani Plains
by
Kathryn Powell
Washington University
Although the five robot spacecraft now
orbiting Mars provide global coverage in
great detail of the Martian surface and
atmosphere, the two functioning Mars
rovers are the hands-on robotic geologists.
The Opportunity rover, now in its
eleventh year of operation, is studying the
rim of Endeavour crater. It continues to
uncover pieces of the past history of
Mars, especially related to the presence
and disappearance of water. Kathryn
Powell will talk about the Opportunity
rover mission, show some of the images
of the surface of Mars, and highlight
some of their important discoveries.
Kathryn Powell is a PhD student in the Department
of Earth & Planetary Sciences at
Washington University in St. Louis. She
earned her B.S. in Astrophysics from Rice
University in 2013, and her A.M. in Earth& Planetary Sciences from Wash U in 2015.
Kathryn is a member of the Mars Exploration
Rover Opportunity science team. Her research
at Wash U focuses on reconstructing
ancient Martian environments using remote
sensing and rover observations. She aspires
to lead the next generation of robotic exploration
in the solar system.
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Meeting Agenda
Welcome
Introduction of Officers and Visitors
Main Speaker: Kathryn Powell
Astro 101 Mission Control Report - Brad Waller
AL Observing Awards
Astronomy Magazine 2014 Out-of-this-world Award - $2500
Link to announcement
4 Library Telescopes entered into the Loaner Scope program
Elections -
President - Jim Small
Vice President - Paul Baldwin
Secretary - Mark Jones
Treasurer - Bill Winningham
Membership/Hospitaility - Larry Campbell
Board Member at Large - Brian Mills
Announcements
Star Parties
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