Sam Hale joins StarLight Festival lineup

Samuel Hale will speak about his iconic grandfather — George Ellery Hale — during the StarLight Festival at Yerkes Observatory.

Sam Hale will honor his iconic grandfather — George Ellery Hale — at upcoming StarLight Festival Free event set for May 26th & 27th at Yerkes Observatory To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the legendary George Ellery Hale, Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, is hosting this year's StarLight Festival over Memorial Day weekend. As part of this astro-STEM event, Mt. Wilson Institute Board of Trustees Chairman and CEO Samuel D. Hale will honor his grandfather — George Ellery Hale — and speak about his profound legacy as a pioneer in modern astrophysics. In September 1892, George Ellery Hale, who was then a professor of astrophysics at the University of Chicago, set in motion a plan to build the world's largest refractor. He was driven by an unwavering desire to give humanity the opportunity to explore more of the universe. His efforts would lead to the creation of Yerkes Observatory and its famed 40-inch refractor and put him on the path to playing a fundamental role in the building of the 60-inch and 100-inch telescopes at Mt. Wilson Observatory and finally the 200-inch at Palomar Observatory. Samuel Hale will give StarLight Festival attendees a glimpse into the life and work of George Ellery Hale from the unique perspective of a direct descendant. Born and raised in Pasadena, Calif., Samuel Hale has made a career in investment management and joined the board of the Mt. Wilson Institute in the late 1990s at the invitation of Executive Director Dr. Robert Jastrow. He succeeded Nobel Laureate Charles Townes as Chair in 2006. Samuel Hale's appearance is just one of many amazing things that await visitors to this year's StarLight Festival, which is a free event that is perfect for people of all ages. This celebration of astronomy and science will be held May 26th and 27th on the grounds of Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wis. It will include presentations by renowned astronomers and scientists, hands-on STEM activities, cryogenic demonstrations, rockets, drones and more. For more information, click here. StarLight Festival Presenters Include: Cassini Mission Project Scientist Dr. Linda Spilker will give insights into one of the most extensive exploratory missions in the history of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory by sharing what Cassini revealed about the mysteries of Saturn and its stunning ring system. Dr. Seth Shostak, who is the senior astronomer at the SETI Institute and the host of the nonprofit's weekly radio show "Big Picture Science", will discuss his experiences as a SETI researcher and the ongoing search for intelligent life in the cosmos.  As a 4-year-old in the war-torn Republic of Kosovo, Pranvera Hyseni witnessed what would become her own defining event — the August 11, 1999, total solar eclipse. As the sunlight dimmed, her passion for astronomy sparked to life. In 2015, Hyseni founded the nonprofit Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo in order to share her passion with others. At the festival, she will speak on the history of astronomy in Kosovo and her organization's mission.   Copyright © 2018 Explore Scientific, All rights reserved. You have purchased from us in the past Our mailing address is: Explore Scientific 1010 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.