SLAS Regular Meeting
Friday, November 17, 2017 7:30pm
162 McDonnell Hall, Washington University

Pluto and Beyond – Looking to New Horizons
by
Dr. William B. McKinnon
Washington University

Dr. William B. McKinnon will be featured at the November meeting of the St. Louis Astronomical Society. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM Friday, November 17, in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus, Saint Louis, MO 63130.

When NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto on July 14, 2015, it provided the first detailed look at the distant ice world. Scientists had hoped for more than images of a cratered surface, but did not know what to expect. They were astounded at views of strange surface features – mountains of supercold ice, glaciers of frozen nitrogen, landscapes of natural gas ice. Following the frenetic activity of the days of closest approach and recession, the New Horizons spacecraft was placed into hibernation as it coasted outward. It is now heading for an even more distant and much smaller object. Dr. McKinnon will talk about the discoveries already made from the images and data of the Pluto fly-by and comment about its next target, the icy 2014 MU69.

Dr. McKinnon is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University. His research focuses on the ice worlds, including Pluto, that lie beyond the orbit of Neptune; icy satellites of the outer solar system; and the physics of impact cratering. Dr. McKinnon is a deputy scientist and coinvestigator for the Geology, Geophysics, and Imaging Team of the New Horizons mission.

Meeting Agenda

Welcome

Introduction of Officers and Visitors

Main Speaker: William McKinnon, PhD

Certificates of Recognition

Presentation of the Budget

Star Parties:

Other Announcements