I wanted to thank everyone who helped organize the Lord of the Rings event, it was really cool. David Stein and Teresa Palomar did a great job explaining resonance in the context of Saturn's rings, and Bob Chapman's presentation helped put resonance in perspective as a universal process (pun intended). Marc Feuerberg's shadow demonstration using a scale model of Saturn was very cool as well.

Everyone clearly put a lot of work into this, and I just wanted to say Thanks! Katie and I really enjoyed it.

Hopefully, Mother Nature will be more accommodating at our next HAL star party on April 14th and provide us with clear skies so we can actually *see* Saturn. :-(

Clear skies,

Chris Todd
HAL 1st VP

Also thanks to Michael Chesnes for the most perfect dissection of Styrofoam balls ever seen. 1/2 of a 2" Styrofoam sphere placed on either side of the center hole in your favorite "cut-out rack" CD makes a perfect scale model of Saturn.

Chas Rimpo
HAL Events Coordinator

The Venue - Alpha Ridge Pavilion #1	David Stein has the audience on the edge of their seats....

Sometimes having your picture taken is even better than a small picture of Saturn

Oooo. Big pictures of Saturn. NOW you're talking. This is better than getting my picture taken!
Mimas aka The Death Star. Large Saturn moon	Look at those rings getting cleared out by Mimas
Teresa "Spare No Expense" Palomar demos resonance using string, a bolt, and a magnet	Teresa substitutes magnetism for gravity
Raise your hand if you understand resonance.	Bob Chapman explains resonance and its effects across the solar system with four charts

Pay attention, Marc. There will be a test.	Marc Feuerberg's Saturn model gets a workout

This is the best view of Saturn from Alpha Ridge on 3/31/2007