An Evening with Carolyn Shoemaker
The Young Astronauts, and TAAS
Wednesday, February 12, 2003, 6:30 pm
Monte Vista Elementary School
3211 Monte Vista Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
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Carolyn Shoemaker (2001)
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Local Astronomers have an opportunity to spend quality time
with a true astronomical legend this month, as Carolyn Shoemaker
comes to Albuquerque on February 12 to speak at Monte Vista
Elementary. A special reception with pizza will be held at the school
for TAAS members at 5:30pm, before Carolyn's 6:30 talk.
TAAS will then host a school star party at Monte Vista after the talk.
This event is free and open to the public. All TAAS members are
encouraged to participate in this very special astronomical
evening, which is sponsored by the Young
Astronauts.
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Born in Gallup NM, Carolyn once thought that
astronomy was "relegated to only old men in white beards,
smoking pipes, and staring at the sky." But after her
three children were grown, she grew increasingly interested in her
husband Gene's field. Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker were
co-recipients of the Rittenhouse Medal in 1988 and the Scientists
of the Year Award in 1995. She received an honorary doctorate of
science from Northern Arizona University of Flagstaff in 1990 and
the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 1996. |
The Shoemakers
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Lunar Prospector
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In 1997, Gene and Carolyn were working in Australia in when
the pair was involved in a car crash near Alice Springs. Gene
Shoemaker was killed instantly, while Carolyn sustained severe
injuries. Carolyn eventually recovered and continues her
observation work in Arizona with David Levy and his wife Wendee.
On July 31, 1999, Gene Shoemaker's ashes were laid to rest on
the lunar surface by NASA's Lunar Prospector. |
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Although Carolyn didn't begin her astronomical career until
she was 51, she has discovered more than 300 asteroids and 32
comets, and is best known for her 1993 co-discovery of comet
Shoemaker-Levy 9, which collided with Jupiter in 1994. The
collision gave planetary scientists the most spectacular and
most widely studied solar system event in history, as each of
the comet's 23 individual fragments collided with the giant
planet over a number of days.
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Jupiter after impact
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Event: An Evening with
Carolyn Shoemaker and TAAS
Place: Monte Vista Elementary School
3211 Monte Vista Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
Time: TAAS Reception - 5:30pm
Carolyn's
Talk - 6:30pm
Star
Party - 7:15
(or after
Carolyn's Talk)
Price: Free and Open to the Public
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