Sign up to receive emails from the library
Local History Presentation: Yankee Stargazers Online
Join us for a Semi-quincentennial tribute to American astronomers. Stars figure large in our early American identity – from the first flags of 1777 to the star charts in Ben Franklin’s popular almanacs. We’ll explore how the science of astronomy developed from the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence right up to the present time. And we’ll clue you in on where to look in the sky to see a star, whose light began on its journey to Earth 250 years ago, and is only arriving now, for us to view in 2026
- Date:
- Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Time:
- 7:00pm - 8:15pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- Webinar/Virtual
- Online:
- This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.
- Audience:
- Adults Featured Programs and Events
- Categories:
- Happy 250th America History & Local Interest
About the presenter: Joe Rao was a broadcast meteorologist for over 40 years, holding the Seals of Approval of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA). He still serves as an associate and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He also writes about astronomy for the online news service, Space.com, as well as Natural History magazine, Sky & Telescope, and other publications. On July 3rd, 2023, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) named Asteroid 20009 Joerao in his honor.