Pontchartrain Astronomy Society

The 1920s were a pivotal decade in astronomy. Our ideas of the Universe changed from a static, Milky Way-only Universe to an expanding, multi-galactic cosmos. In 1923,Edwin Hubble identified Cepheid variable stars in the Andromeda nebula, proving it was a separate galaxy far beyond the Milky Way. Building on work by Vesto Slipher and Henrietta Swan Leavitt, Hubble discovered that galaxies are moving away from us at speeds proportional to their distance. The combination of Hubble’s observations and Einstein’s general theory of relativity established the foundation for modern cosmology and the Big Bang theory. Speaker: David H. Kern, PhD.

The Pontchartrain Astronomy Society was founded in 1959 and currently has a roster of nearly 150 members from South Louisiana and South Mississippi. The society’s members come from many walks of life and have diverse interests in amateur astronomy. The goal of the society is to enhance the study and enjoyment of astronomy among its members and to promote an understanding and appreciation of astronomy in the community. Each meeting features a speakers who talks on the subject of astronomy.