“Perspectives”  examines relative distances in the universe and the possible distances achievable through 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 about several significant questions: How far can we see, how far will we ever see, and how big might the universe be beyond our cosmological horizons? The program is supported by models, props, and LEDs to establish easily understood comparative scales. The program provides a cure for feeling small as we find our place on the range of scales between the Planck length and the radius of the observable universe.

Chuck Allen is president of the Astronomical League with past service as president from 1998 to 2002.  A League Lifetime Member, he founded the National Young Astronomer Award in 1991, received the G. R. Wright Award for service in 1998, co-chaired ALCon ’21 Virtual, and chaired the League Bylaws revision project. An amateur astronomer from age 7, he holds the League’s Master Observer-gold, Herschel Society-gold, and Master Outreach awards, coordinates three League observing programs, and has given more than 550 public presentations including more than 50 appearances on Global Star Party and League Live programs. Chuck is also Program Director for the Evansville Astronomical Society and past President of the Louisville Astronomical Society. For seven years, he served as a judge and lead judge for the Intel (now Regeneron) International Science and Engineering Fair, and he is currently a best-in-fair judge for the Louisville Regional Science & Engineering Fair.

This meeting will take place in-person at our usual Space Place classroom location. It will also be streamed live to our Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@madisonastronomicalsociety.