"The Not-So-Secret Life of Stars"
Astronomy Program at Historic Buena Vista Mansion on January 18, 2008
(Dover, Delaware - December 21, 2007) On Friday, January 18 from 6:30-9:30 p.m., historic Buena Vista mansion near New Castle will repeat its popular program "The Not-So-Secret Life of Stars," an astronomy lecture and multi-media presentation by Wilmington University Adjunct Professor Thomas F. Brennan. Admission to the presentation is free but space is limited. Persons interested in participating must make reservations in advance by calling Buena Vista at 302-323-4430.
In the first part of the presentation, Brennan will discuss the birth, life, and death of stars, addressing questions regarding their brightness, color, size, distance from Earth, and age. The second part of the presentation will explore what happens to the remains of dead stars and why the "Star Mortuary" might be the most interesting aspect of the not-so-secret lives of stars. Multimedia displays will include images of celestial bodies taken by astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Infrared Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Space Observatory, as well as other images from ground-based telescopes. Following the presentation, participants will move outside for a "Star Party" where they will observe the night sky through telescopes provided by the Delaware Astronomical Society.
The schedule for "The Not-So-Secret Life of Stars" is as follows:
Thomas F. Brennan is an Adjunct Professor of Astronomy at Wilmington University (New Castle, Delaware) where he teaches courses in Earth- and Space-Sciences as well as Astronomy. He holds the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science, both from Temple University. A retired Education Associate for the Delaware Center for Educational Technology, a division of the Delaware Department of Education, Brennan's primary interest in Astronomy has been in the field of education. He has worked as a consultant with NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in public outreach and space education. Currently, he is creating and producing movies designed to collect the very best astronomical images and present them in a single format.
Located at 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), southwest of New Castle, Buena Vista is one of Delaware's most historic homes. The main section of the house was built between 1845 and 1847 by John M. Clayton, United States Secretary of State from 1849-1850 under presidents Taylor and Fillmore, and United States Senator from 1829-1836, 1845-1849, and 1853 until his death in 1856. The home later became the residence of C. Douglass Buck, Governor of Delaware from 1929-1937 and United States Senator from 1942-1948. Buena Vista and its grounds were donated to the state by the Buck family in 1965 and now serve as a state conference center administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs.
"The Not-So-Secret Life of Stars"
Date: Friday, January 18, 2008, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: Buena Vista Conference and Reception Center
661 South Dupont Highway (Route 13)
New Castle, Delaware 19720
Telephone: (302) 323-4430
Admission: Free and open to the public
Parking: Ample, free parking is available at Buena Vista
Directions: Located on the southbound side of U.S. Route 13 southwest of New Castle, Delaware, Buena Vista is approximately 1.5 miles south of the interchange of Routes 13 and 40, and approximately 1.5 miles north of the interchange of Routes 1 and 13.
Buena Vista is one of two conference centers administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA), an agency of the State of Delaware. HCA enhances Delaware's quality of life by preserving the state's unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality, and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. In addition to its conference centers, HCA operates eight museums, manages over thirty historic properties, and serves as the state's historic preservation office. Funding for HCA's programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly, revenue from HCA's History Stores, and grants from the National Park Service, a federal agency.
