Celebrate Galileo and 400 years of astronomy

The public is invited to a celebration of 400 years of astronomy with a special presentation on Galileo at 7 p.m. June 12 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), Macedonia Church Road. The evening’s activities will include a tour of the PARI campus and celestial observations using PARI’s optical or radio telescopes.

The program is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature a presentation by Dr. Robert Milligan, a Brevard resident and emeritus professor of physics at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Penn.

“2009 is the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of the telescope to observe the heavens,” said Dr. Milligan. “My presentation will focus on the importance of Galileo’s work, his interactions with religious leaders of the day and how his observations helped change the course of history. Galileo’s work will be discussed within the context of the religious, political and social conditions that prevailed in Europe in the early part of the 17th Century, conditions which gave rise to what scholars later called the ‘Galileo Equation:’ Genius + Intransigence- Humility= Trouble.”“We are delighted to be able to invite the public to Dr. Milligan’s presentation,” said PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth. “And fortunate to have an expert of his caliber in our community. I’m confident his presentation will be fascinating to people of all ages. This is a family-oriented event and we encourage everyone to attend.”