NCRAL 2025 Convention
April 25-26, 2025
Marriot Southwest
5801 Opus Parkway, Minnetonka, MN
Presented by the NCRAL Convention Committee
Registration begins January 25, 2025.
Theme: “First Light – New Frontiers, New People“
This theme is to reflect the exciting advancements in astronomy and welcome new NCRAL members and other members who have not previously attended a conference.
Conference Schedule:
8:00 AM Business Meeting
-Coffee and donuts will be provided!
10:00 AM Morning Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
-Box lunches will be provided but there are also restaurants nearby.
1:00 PM Afternoon Sessions
5:00 PM Group photo and social hour, followed by a buffet-style banquet and featured Keynote Speaker
Speakers Lineup:
- John Rummel, Madison Astronomical Society, accomplished photographer – “Can the Milky Way Cast a Shadow?”
- Bob King, Contributor, Sky and Telescope, blogger, author – “NASA’s Planned NEO Surveyor Hunts Down Killer Asteroids.”
- Lawrence Rudnick, Professor Emeritus of Astrophysics University of Minnesota. – “Game Changers in the Radio Sky.”
- Clem Pryke, Experimental Cosmologist and Educator, University of Minnesota – “Studying the Beginning of the Universe from the Bottom of the World.”
- Mike Solontoi, Associate Professor of Physics, Monmouth College – “Seeing the Universe Through New Eyes – The Vera C. Rubin Observatory.”
- Mike Benson, PhD and VP of R&D at Hormel Foods, accomplished astrophotographer, will discuss his experiences in astrophotography.
- Evan Skillman, Distinguished Professor, University of Minnesota– “Using the Large Binocular Telescope to Measure the Primordial Helium Abundance.”
Our own Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS) will be hosting NCRAL Conference attendees for a Friday night Star-B-Q at Eagle Lake Observatory on April 25. Guests can head to Eagle Lake to enjoy dinner, a tour of the observatory, and listen to a brief presentation by Greg Bragg, acknowledged camera and telescope insider, on “The State of the Astronomy Industry.”
Mariott Southwest rooms are available at the NCRAL rate and can be reserved by calling the Marriot directly at (952) 935-5500 and asking for the NCRAL Conference block. Direct questions to NCRALConference@gmail.com
For more information, click the link below:
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