Universe in the Park: In-Person Badger Talk at Amnicon Falls State Park

Join presenters Erin Motherway and Eli Sofovich on August 25, 2025, at 8:30 PM at Amnicon Falls State Park for a Universe in the Park program. Enjoy a 30–40 minute astronomy talk at sunset followed by telescope viewing, weather permitting. Great for ages 8+ (talk) and 4+ (viewing). With questions, call the park office at 715-398-3000.

Erin Motherway is a graduate student at UW-Madison pursuing her PhD in astronomy. Her research thus far has consisted of studying the evolution of binary star systems found in different areas of the universe such as within star clusters or in the field of space. She uses observational data from a variety of astronomical instruments to constrain the physics of binary evolution, understand likely progenitor systems and formation mechanisms, and help build an observational framework to advance binary star evolution theory and models.

Eli Sofovich earned a B.S. in Astronomy and Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently seeking a Ph.D. as a graduate student at UW-Madison’s Department of Astronomy. His broad interests lie in astrobiology and the hunt to answer the question “Are we alone in the universe,” which he seeks to answer through his research with Prof. Zoe Todd to better understand how life could originate on exoplanets by examining the delivery of the chemicals necessary for life through comets and asteroids.

You may also like the following events from Badger Talks:

• This Friday, 22nd August, 08:15 pm, Universe in the Park: In-Person Badger Talk at Yellowstone Lake State Park, Blanchardville, WI in Blanchardville
• This Friday, 22nd August, 08:30 pm, Universe in the Park: In-Person Badger Talk at Governor Thompson State Park, Crivitz, WI in Crivitz
• This Saturday, 23rd August, 10:00 am, "Astronomy and the World Around You (Children's Programming)": In-person Badger Talk in Wausau, WI in Wausau