Keynote: Dr. Ken Kremer presents "Atlantis, the End of America's Shuttle Program & What's Beyond for NASA. An Eyewitness Account."

Dr. Ken Kremer is a research scientist and freelance science journalist whose articles and space exploration images have been widely published in magazines, books and websites including NASA, Astronomy Picture of the Day, ABC and NBC News, Spaceflight Now, Astronomy Now, New Scientist, International Year of Astronomy, Planetary Society, NASA Watch, Scientific American, Universe Today and the covers of Aviation Week & Space Technology, Spaceflight and the Explorers Club magazines.

NASA is at a crossroads. So much is happening between our Shuttle Program winding down, completing the International Space Station (ISS), and the ever changing future objectives of our space program. Dr. Kremer will present an inside point of view on the thrilling final shuttle missions to the ISS and what lies ahead for NASA in the post-Shuttle Era. Ken will share his eyewitness perspective on human spaceflight and exclusive photos of Shuttle launch operations, the next generation Orion, and commercial SpaceX vehicles. He will have a selection of his Shuttle photos and Mars photomosaics for sale as postcards and frameable prints.

Visit Dr. Kremer's web page http://www.kenkremer.com/

Glenn Muller presents "The Shot Of The Century"

Starting with the beginnings of photography, and how it was influenced by the leading astronomers of the Nineteenth Century, this presentation looks at how extraordinary astrophotographs have had an impact on our society and culture. In part, a nostalgic look at pivotal moments of celestial discovery, the pictures presented also demonstrate the evolution of our understanding, and subsequent exploration, of space.

Only slightly older than Sputnik, Glenn Muller has been a space junkie from as far back as he can remember. He bought his first scope in 1969, a 60mm Tasco refractor, but now has a collection of dob-mounted reflectors in his own backyard facility known as the GEM 'n I Dobservatory. His favourite observing partner is his wife, Gail Elizabeth Muller (GEM), and they reside in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada which is near Niagara Falls.

From 2003 to 2007, Glenn was President of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers. He has made numerous presentations at club meetings and star parties, given radio interviews to coincide with special celestial events, and has hosted astronomy nights for local schools and groups.

A frequent writer, Glenn has had book and event reviews published in Astronomy Magazine and Astronomy.com. He also has posted several astronomy related articles on his personal website at http://home.primus.ca/~gmuller/astro.html

Larry McHenry presents "Stargazing, Myths, and Ancient Folklore"

Larry McHenry has been active in amateur astronomy for over 30 years, and is currently a member of the Kiski Astronomers. He is past co-chair of the former Laurel Highlands Star Cruise convention, past President of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP), and past Director of the Mingo Creek Park Observatory (MCPO). Larry lives in the Pittsburgh, South Hills community of Baldwin, and currently works in downtown Pittsburgh as a systems application project lead.

In addition to specializing in solar observing, sketching, and video-astronomy, Larry also likes to study the mythology of the night sky from various cultures around the world. Larry will present a discussion on "Stargazing, Myths, and Ancient Folklore" - An introduction to the constellations and their human interpretations over the ages. The presentation is a non-technical general introduction to the constellations, where they came from and their meaning, along with some of the ancient myths and folklore of the night sky. The presentation focuses on four general categories of night sky myths and legends: those associated with the Big Dipper (Ursa Major), Orion the Hunter, the Pleiades star cluster, and the Milky Way.

Dr Matthew S. Povich presents "Life in the Zooniverse"

The Zooniverse: Real Science Online (www.zooniverse.org) is home to the most popular and successful collection of "citizen science" projects on the internet. Over 400,000 volunteers from around the globe have helped professional scientists analyze large sets of data. Their efforts have furthered our understanding of diverse phenomena in our universe, from galaxies and nebulae to the Sun and Moon to Earth's climate. Zooniverse participants require nothing more than an internet-connected computer and a desire to help. This presentation will give a guided tour of the Zooniverse, with an emphasis on the Milky Way Project (www.milkywayproject.org) and other new, active projects.

Matthew S. Povich is a National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at Penn State. He studies stellar nurseries in the Milky Way, including famous, bright nebulae like the Swan Nebula (M17) and the Great Nebula in Carina. Dr. Povich is a Zookeeper for the Milky Way Project. He received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Wisconsin in 2009. Before that, he completed undergraduate studies at Harvard College and then served as a math and physics teacher for the U.S. Peace Corps in Tanzania.

Rob Teeter presents "Teeter and his Telescopes: 9 Years, 82 Scopes and a Thousand Stories"

Summary: Telescope manufacturer and avid star party goer, Rob Teeter, has built several dozen custom made Truss Dobsonians from 8" to 20" since opening "Teeter's Telescopes, LLC" in 2002. Each scope unique, and each one with a story. Listen as Rob recounts his most interesting telescope making adventures while he walks the audience through the virtues of what makes a great telescope, from advanced cooling techniques to the latest in construction materials.