When: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Rain date: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Where: Aboard the River Packet in Chestertown, MD
Who: Ryan Hardy, Geodesist at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ticket: $60 per person
Total Tickets Available: REGISTRATION CLOSED

Join Geodesist Ryan Hardy for an evening astronomy expedition on the Chester River aboard the 65-ft yacht; River Packet. Geodesists measure and monitor the Earth’s size and shape, geodynamic phenomena (e.g., tides and polar motion), and gravity field to determine the exact coordinates of any point on Earth and how that point will move over time. This tour will be spent exploring the mysteries of the night sky, identifying constellations, and using Ryan’s expertise to discuss cosmology, the lifecycles of planets and stars, and how humans use celestial bodies for navigation. Ryan will even bring his own sextant and demonstrate it’s working principles! Questions to think about are: how does the moon impact the tides, and how does this impact our rivers on the Eastern Shore? How can we translate an understanding of the sheer scale of the universe into a healthy land ethic here on Earth?

Within the comfort of the yacht’s climate controlled salon, or outside in the salty breeze, Ryan will lead these informative discussions and tie them to the important work he does at NOAA, and that ShoreRivers does for water quality. Ryan’s graduate research involved using gravity measurement to track sea level rise which is heavily impacting the Eastern Shore, and he will discuss his current research as well which uses geodetic astronomy define heights for floodplain mapping. This is a rare opportunity to meet and converse with a professional geodesist. We all come from the same atoms that comprise the stars we see at night, so if you feel your inner stardust tugging at your heartstrings, this is the expeditions for you!