The very first ship on the upper Great Lakes, LaSalle's Griffon, sailed only a single voyage before disappearing beneath the waves. Since then, thousands of other vessels, along with their crews, have met the same fate. What remains of these ships and cargoes beneath the mighty Great Lakes? Join us for a fascinating journey, as we tour the mysteries of the Lakes through excellent photographs and amazing underwater video with Detroit Historical Society curator Joel Stone. This event will be held in conjunction with Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2010, which, this year focuses on the subject of Michigan.

Acclaimed author Jerry Dennis will discuss his book in the Towsley Auditorium of the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College (located at 4800 Huron River Drive in Ann Arbor Township) and offer his own thoughts on the Great Lakes and his personal 4-week journey through the Lakes as a crew-member on a tall-masted schooner. Dennis' book, 'The Living Great Lakes: Searching For The Heart Of The Inland Seas,' has been chosen as the focus of the 2010 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads program. This appearance is a key event for the Reads program, which this year focuses on the subject of Michigan. A booksigning will follow and books will be on sale at this event, courtesy of Nicola's Books.

Are you curious about how the 1854 Detroit Observatory came to be -- and why it is in Ann Arbor, NOT Detroit? Michigan is not the most likely place to build a state-of-the-art astronomical observatory. However, the Detroit Observatory, named in honor of major donors from Detroit, was the centerpiece of President Henry Philip Tappan's efforts to transform the University of Michigan into one of the first research universities in the United States.

The Library is extremely pleased to host well-known NASA Astronomer and author Sten Odenwald to discuss what NASA is up to in the 21st century as well as the impediments to its success. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about astronomy, from an award-winning expert. Sten Odenwald is an active NASA educator and author whose media contributions include The Washington Post, Sky and Telescope and National Public Radio. Odenwald has also worked with teachers around the country to develop classroom materials based on his work at NASA.

Over the past quarter century, a new field of study called archeoastronomy has developed, investigating astronomical alignments that may have been incorporated or utilized in prehistoric times by ancient people. Years of field research at petroform sites may prove that some of the most unique and oldest archeoastronomy sites in North America - possibly as old as the pyramids in Egypt - are located in southeastern Wisconsin.

Learn what's in store for the future of Science Fiction when three of today's best science fiction writers - Tobias S. Buckell, Steven Harper Piziks and Sarah Zettel -- join forces for a discussion and book signing in conjunction with The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2009, which this year focuses on the theme The Universe: Yours To Discover. Books will be on sale at the event, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.Tobias S. Buckell is a Caribbean-born speculative fiction writer who grew up in Grenada, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Are UFO's real? In conjunction with Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2009, William J. Konkolesky, Michigan director of the Mutual UFO Network, will discuss UFOs and Michigan sightings during the 1960s in Hillsdale and Ann Arbor. MUFON is the world's largest civilian UFO research organization.The theme of Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2009 is The Universe: Yours To Discover.

UM physicist and astronomer Timothy McKay presents a brief overview of some of the current ideas and theories in the field of astronomy. He will also talk about the GalaxyZoo project, which uses volunteer amateurs to contribute to galaxy structure research. This will be followed by a Q & A session, where Professor McKay will answer everything you ever wanted to know about astronomy, based on audience questions - so please don't be afraid to ask!Timothy McKay is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics in the University of Michigan Physics Department.

Acclaimed author Timothy Ferris made a special appearance at this key event of Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2009. The theme of 2009's Reads program is The Universe: Yours To Discover, and Mr. Ferris' book, "Seeing In The Dark: How Amateur Astronomers Are Discovering The Wonders Of The Universe," has been chosen as the focus of the program. Mr. Ferris discussed his book, as well as his thoughts on astronomy and the universe around us. Timothy Ferris has received the American Institute of Physics prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Weiner will make a special appearance at Washtenaw Community College (4800 Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor Township) as part of the 2006 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads. He will discuss his book, "The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time," which was chosen as the focus of this year's Reads program. It is an examination of the groundbreaking scientific research of scientists Peter and Rosemary Grant, who spent years studying Darwin's finches in the Galapagos Islands and resulted in new ways to look at evolution.