DRAGON*CON 2009:
WELCOME TO DRAGON*CON -
DR. SETH SHOSTAK
I've just had it confirmed that Dr. Shostak, from the SETI Institute, will be a guest at Dragon*Con in 2009! I am more than excited about this since I have been trying to lure him into coming for 3 or 4 years. I know that the Skeptics Track is looking forward to him presenting on their track as well. Derek and I may have to duke it out. Anyone else excited about this? : - )
Hello Space and Science Fans! The days to Dragon*Con are counting down quickly!! Does it seem like 2009 is racing by at top speed? Well, it sure does to us. It seems everything Dragon*Con related is moving at a faster pace this year. The Con hotels sold out before the end of 2008. The Dragon*Con website is showing well over a hundred guests. Even jonnyX and I are running ahead of schedule!
We have many returning guests from previous years and some new ones we hope you all enjoy. To give you all just a little something to look forward to, we're bringing
back the comedy team of Kevin Grazier (JPL Cassini scientist and BSG, Eureka and Zula Patrol science liaison) and Phil Plait (Mr. Bad Astronomy himself). Speaking of Kevin Grazier,
the author of The Science of Michael Crichton
and The Science of Dune
, has done it again and will present his The Science of BattleStar Galactica
on the Science Track.
And just today, I've confirmed a panel on the Space Track with our own Les Johnson and sci-fi writer extraordinaire, Timothy Zahn!
This is a big year in the Astronomical Community; welcome to the International Year of Astronomy 2009! There are events happening all year long and all over the world. Dr. Keel, who runs our Live Astronomy nighttime program celebrated the start of the International Year of Astronomy at a very symbolic place. : -) Wherever you are, look for your local astronomy club or contact the astronomy (science) department at a nearby college or check with a science museum – somewhere near where you live there will be events celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. Of course the Space Track will as well.
We will again have our solar telescopes set up during the day. We are another year closer to solar maximum and the sun is getting more active. Sunspots and prominences should be giving daily shows. : -) Our nighttime Live Astronomy has produced some spectacular pictures in the last two years and Dr. Keel was kind enough to render one of the images from last year with color. The image of the Dumbbell Nebula is beautiful and I'm very proud that it was taken during one of our Live Astronomy sessions. For 2009, we working on making them even better. Check back with us as we get closer to Con for an announcement.
We're looking forward to a really great year for both the Space and Science Tracks. We hope you'll join us!
