Astronomer Gerald McKeegan
Science and Ideas Group
Pluto: A Planetary Saga
February 18 is National Pluto Day, an annual celebration of a celestial body with a history that is both fascinating and controversial. Astronomer Gerald McKeegan will talk about Pluto, how it was discovered, how our scientific understanding of it changed over the decades, and why the debate about Pluto’s status as a planet still continues. Gerald McKeegan is an astronomer at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. McKeegan teaches astronomy at Chabot, hosts an online virtual telescope program, and appears frequently in broadcast and print media, discussing astronomy and space current events. He has more than forty years’ experience working in the aerospace industry, primarily on spacecraft and launch vehicles, including several NASA planetary missions. Gerald holds a Master of Science Degree in Space Studies, and has received numerous awards for his contributions to space missions and science education. McKeegan is also the Principal Investigator for the Chabot Observatory Asteroid Tracking Program.