Ralph James

The Planets: A Journey from Mercury to Pluto and Beyond

Dr. Ralph James was born in Ashville, NC.  He received his education at Wake Forest University, Emory University and Drew University.  After teaching at N. C. Wesleyan College, he was a consultant for 25 years with FMI, a management consulting firm in Raleigh.  He has taught and studied cosmology for fifty years.

For many years he was a member of the Raleigh Astronomy Club, where he gave programs on the planets and the universe to local schools and civic organizations.

After retiring to Bermuda Village, he has provided programs for residents in the Village College and local civic clubs including the Davie County and Clemmons Rotary Clubs. Audiences have enjoyed Ralph’s “journey through the planets from the Sun and Mercury to Earth’s sister planet, Venus, as well as Mars’ amazing “Grand Canyon” and towering Mons Olympus.  They visit Jupiter’s giant hurricanes and Galilean moons with the under-ice ocean.  The “Trip continues to Saturn’s fascinating moon, Titan, with methane lakes and an atmosphere so thick we could fly without wings.

He and his wife have 3 sons and 9 grandchildren.