Voyager Lecture Series

James Webb Space Telescope

Presented by Ron Smith

6:30 pm – Optional Social Hour with Like-Minded Friends

7:30 pm – Lecture

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Space Telescope. This will enable investigations across many fields of astronomy and cosmology, such as observation of the first stars, the formation of the first galaxies, and detailed atmospheric characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets.

The James Webb Space Telescope was launched on 25 December 2021 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, and arrived at the Sun in January 2022. The first JWST image was released to the public via a press conference on 11 July 2022.

About Ron Smith:

Ron Smith’s teaching and lecturing career began at age 9 when his father took him to see a planetarium show at the Griffith Observatory. Ten years later Ron’s dream came true when he began giving planetarium shows at Griffith while pursuing an astronomy degree at the University of Southern California. After graduating from USC, Ron began his 34 year teaching career in the California Community College system. He first directed the Tessmann Planetarium at Santa Ana College, then two years later, became a professor of astronomy at Santa Monica College. In 1984 he left Southern California and taught for 18 years at Santa Rosa Junior College.There he produced planetarium programs for the college star theater, and taught astronomy, meteorology, and earth science. Ron Smith considers himself to be a planetarium educator. His experience in junior college teaching, public lecturing at the Page Museum of Natural History, and planetarium show production gives him a broad based science background. In retirement, Ron continues to enjoy sharing his love of science with audiences at Sunriver, Dixie State University, and the Center for the Arts at Kayenta.

Voyager Lecture Series:

The Voyager Lecture Series–Evenings to Inspire Curiosity & Wonder In our sixth season. We’ve expanded our wildly popular series to include new guest speakers who will entertain us with thoughtful and exciting stories ranging from the mysteries of pre-recorded history to mysteries of the cosmos.

Sponsors:

The Voyager Lecture Series is generously sponsored by Voyager Wealth Advisors, Inc.
Cache Valley Bank and Sotheby’s International Realty, with Linda Schmal & Edward Staver.