CASTalks - Perspectives on Distance

CAS is proud to host Chuck Allen from the Astronomical League. Chuck's presentation on “Perspectives” examines relative distances in the universe and the possible distances reachable by manned and unmanned space flight and through amateur and professional telescopic observation. Examining scales from the human altitude record to the four cosmological horizons, the program discusses astrophysicists’ current thinking on the biggest questions about the universe: How far can we see and how big might the universe be? We'll end with some thoughts on why you shouldn't feel so small.

Chuck Allen is current president and also past-president of the 25,000-member Astronomical League. He has given more than 550 public presentations to schools and universities, scientific societies, conventions, and other public audiences. He is a League gold-level master observer with 44 programs completed and has received both the G. R. Wright award and Master Outreach award. Chuck coordinates three League observing programs, co-chaired ALCon ‘21 Virtual, and founded the League's National Young Astronomer Award in 1993. He is also current program chair for the Evansville Astronomical Society, past president of the Louisville Astronomical Society, and a past judge and lead judge for the Intel (now Regeneron) International Science and Engineering Fair. He has been an amateur astronomer since age seven.