In 1992 the Department officially inaugurated a group called "Friends of Astronomy" composed mostly of Cornell alumni and friends. This has been a very happy experience with significant interaction between the department and our friends in the wider world.
Anyone with an interest in all things astronomical here at Cornell is welcome to join the Friends of Astronomy group. If interested in finding out more about the group, write to friendsofastronomy@cornell.edu.
The next Cornell Friends of Astronomy discussion that will take place Tuesday April 21st at 8pm. We have finally reached the top of Cerro Chajnantor! In this presentation, Martha Haynes will tell us the story of the CCAT project, starting with its initiation as a distant dream in the mid 1990's to the celebratory inauguration of the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) held on April 9th. Just how do you set up an international corporation, get access to the land, design a next-generation telescope, find a contractor, and build a huge, complex structure at 18,400 feet in the driest desert on Earth? The answer is: let Cornellians lead the project! Come hear about the trials, tribulations and uphill climbs of the past 30+ years which have led to the establishment of this marvelous new telescope at this exceptional Andean site.
The event will take place over Zoom on Tuesday April 21st from 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm EDT. There will be free time for open discussion and reminiscences by participants from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm and further Q/A from 8:45 pm to 9:30 pm as needed. The presentation will begin promptly at 8pm.
For the Zoom link, contact friendsofastronomy@cornell.edu
We hope you will join us!