Astronomy in the Inland Northwest

Bill Nye the Science Guy

PBS came to ASTROCON 99 in the form of Bill Nye the Science Guy, the popular science show host for young people on the PBS network. Along with Bill, came a horde of elementary school age children and their parents, all wanting to experience the hyper-kinetic personality of this well-known science educator. Bill’s show took place downtown in the Spokane Opera House. Tickets were $5 for adults and $3 for children. The low prices evidently worked, since it was reported that 2100 people attended.

Bill was introduced by Louis Freedman of the Planetary Society, who has apparently secured the services of Bill as the Planetary Society Poster Boy to replace the late Carl Sagan. Dr. Freedman explained the value of Mars exploration and the Mars Polar Lander, which is the next planned mission, scheduled to land on December 3, 1999. Bill was Way Cool!

Bill says that science is about observing and learning about the world about us. Through science, we can look at the moon and ponder our place in the universe. It is worthy of respect that mankind has figured out the nature of the universe by embracing science. And the universe is subtle, elegant, beautiful, and just plain wild. In fact, science is so cool,. that they pay you to do homework problems.

Bill started his career as a standup comic, then got a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University with Carl Sagan. Standup comics don’t get patents. That is why he became a scientist instead!

Bill worked his audience like a pro, playing all the tricks he uses on his show to keep kids interested. So he called a couple of kids up from the audience to help him demonstrate the coolness of science. He lit a candle, handed it to the kid, and then used a specially selected Box of Science, fitted with a piece of clear plastic, to create pressure waves to blow out the candle across the stage. Then, using the Theatre Fog Machine of Science, he filled the box with stage fog, and blew smoke rings around the auditorium. The kids went wild. Science is elegant and cool? Yep!

After the kids settled down, Louis Freedman presented a serious lecture on why we want to go to Mars. Frankly, Louis is as dull as Bill is not.

According to Freedman, we study Cosmology and search for extraterrestrial life as a way to better understand who and what we are. It is optimistic to think that we are alone in the universe, even though there is no solid evidence of extraterrestrial life. Cosmology takes us to the edge of the universe in our search.

The Planetary Society is very interested in Mars programs and its exploration. In fact, the Planetary Society is committed to maintaining a presence on Mars every two years, starting in 1999 with the Mars Polar Lander Mission. Red Rover Goes to Mars is one of the current Planetary Society programs that is enjoying popular success and expanding awareness of science. Through the help of Bill Nye, kids were given an active part in designing some of the experiments the Mars Polar Lander will do after its arrival on the Red Planet. It was a kid’s suggestion was that they include a microphone on the Lander, so we can hear Mars!

You can reach the Planetary Society on its Web Page, www.planetary.org, 1-800-9worlds

Ed Flaspoehler
Vice-President, AAAA