Warp drives, once confined to the realm of science fiction, are increasingly being explored through the lens of real physics. Rooted in solutions to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, the concept of a warp drive—most notably the Alcubierre Drive—proposes that faster-than-light travel may be possible not by moving objects through space, but by bending space itself.  In this presentation, Maddalena will examine: The scientific foundations of warp drive theory, and key theoretical models proposed by physicists. There are major challenges standing in the way, including the need for exotic matter and staggering energy requirements

Maddalena Romano is a long-time member of both ASLI and the Amateur Observers’ Society of New York . She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Graduate Center, City University of New York and serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Hunter College. 

In this presentation, Mark will share his extraordinary ongoing project, Pilgrimage of Light, which explores the “mysterious coexistence of the universe, Earth and people”. To bring this vision to life, Mark travels to hard-to-reach wilderness areas to project galactic images, altering landscapes while he photographs them. for a truly unique and visually stunning presentation. He is a renowned multimedia artist, photographer, educator, and author, whose work sits at the breathtaking intersection of art and astronomy.  The production of this series received a boost from his Artist in Residence at Grand Canyon National Park in 2023 and 2024. His His work was also featured in the article “Where Space and Time Merge” in National Geographic Magazine’s March 2025 issue.

This is an ASLI Club Observing Night, open to everyone!  We set up in the parking lot of the Vanderbilt Museum and the lights are turned off for us for the evening. Bring your telescope or binoculars to our public observing session, or look through our telescopes which we set up for everyone to look through.  We can show you some of the wonderful objects in the night sky during the evening.  We will only have this observing session if there are perfectly clear skies, however.  Check this website the day of this event before coming to the event, just to make sure it has not been cancelled because of weather

Robert Asumendi is an Oregon-based innovator and amateur astronomer who turned a personal challenge into a groundbreaking mission. Suffering from severe astigmatism, he found traditional telescopes difficult to use. Rather than giving up, he used his graphic design background and learned Computer-Aided Design to create something entirely new. The result? A revolutionary line of binocular telescopes constructed almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. He is the founder of “Analog Sky”, a company that empowers astronomers to build their own high-quality, innovative instruments. Their mission is to democratize stargazing through a unique, crowd-sourced, 3D-printed telescope system. By sharing designs and selling kits, Analog Sky is helping people create deep, memorable connections with the night sky.  Robert has designed a range of products that blend cutting-edge technology with simple, intuitive use.