HYBRID – General Meeting – May 2026

Title: All About Asteroids

In 1801, Ceres became the first asteroid ‘discovered.’ (it was since reclassified as a dwarf planet.) Since then, astronomers have used widely differing approaches to learn about the nature of asteroids. Nearly all of them are point sources that show no details through the largest telescopes. And so, several clever methods to determine their properties have evolved. These include photometry, radar imaging, and stellar occultations. Tom Polakis’ presentation will range from the history of asteroid discoveries to the latest science about them and what future projects are planned. He will show samples of his techniques to study and photograph asteroids

Presenter: Tom Polakis

Tom Polakis has been an active amateur astronomer for 48 years, during which has seen Saturn circle the sun 1 1/2 times.  He is a member of Saguaro Astronomy Club and East Valley Astronomy Club in Metro Phoenix. A graduate of Michigan State University, and a retired mechanical engineer, Tom’s main interests involve visual observing of all astronomical phenomena, and imaging them with equipment ranging from a phone to a backyard observatory.  He has a special interest in describing the universe as an ever-changing entity.  His writing and photography have regularly appeared in magazines such as Astronomy and Sky & Telescope. More recently, he has been an author or co-author for refereed astronomical publications.