CUMBERLAND – Southern Maine Astronomers will offer a talk on Friday, March 20, on the latest developments in the study of vagabonds of the solar system – asteroids. With advanced imaging, through optical and radio astronomy, knowledge is increasing about these remnant bodies and their origins and effect on the evolution of the solar system.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Congregational Church. A beginner’s astronomy class will precede the meeting at 6:30 Both events are free.

The program presenter will be Dr. Chris Magri, associate professor of physics at the University of Maine at Farmington and one of the foremost authorities on asteroid research through use of radar.

Magri has conducted his research at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico and at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Over the past 15 years there have been several fly-bys of several larger asteroids by NASA spacecraft on their way to other destinations, and in 1999 NASA’s NEAR mission placed a spacecraft in orbit of asteroid Eros for a full year. NASA’s DAWN mission will visit two asteroids in the asteroid belt, orbiting one for an extended period, then heading off to a second target.

The group will also discuss what’s visible in the winter sky and other short topics related to observational astronomy.

For more information about the club or directions to the meeting site, visit www.southernmaineastronomers.org.