Below is a list of panels that have been approved and are in preliminary scheduling (Schedule is subject to change). We are still reviewing some submissions and are still accepting submissions for ConStellation 14.
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Convention Panels
Opening Ceremonies - Friday 6PM-7PM, Altair
Come join us for opening ceremonies where we will introduce the guests we have for you this year and go over some of the great things we have this weekend.
Guest Q&A - Friday 8PM-9PM, Altair
Come learn about our guests this year, ask them questions, and put them on the spot!
Art Jam - Saturday 2PM-4PM, Nebula Bazaar
Are you an artist? Do you just like to draw, but don't want to do so alone? Come to the Artist Jam and gather with others to just draw, sketch, and just generally "art".
Cosplay Prejudging - Saturday 2PM-3PM, Vega
This is where the contestants will meet with the judges and answer questions before the contest portion.
Cosplay Contest - Saturday 4PM-5PM, Vega
Come support and cheer on your favorite cosplayers as they show off their crafting and performance skills and compete for a number of prizes! Do you want to compete yourself? Be sure to check-in with cosplay contest staff by applying ahead of time online, or on Friday or Saturday morning for last minute signups.
Art Auction - Saturday 7PM-10PM, Altair
Described by Hugo Award-winning artist John Picacio as a "three-hour fever dream," nothing surpasses the amazement and glory of the art auction. Come to bid or come to watch! You could loose your shirt for a good cause, or buy someone else's! ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN!
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday 4PM-5PM, Altair
All good things must come to an end. Come and wrap up the convention with us, discuss some of the best of times you had, and find out about the future years.
Guest of Honor Panels
Queer Comix In 2025 - Friday 4PM-5PM, Vega
Mergo Petrichor
This will be a panel about making and distributing queer/trans comics and zines.
A Life Spent with Comics - Saturday 4PM-5PM, Altair
Trent Claus, John Doan
Join Lincoln natives and lifelong comic fans John Doan (owner of Trade-a-Tape Comics) and Trent Claus (VFX supervisor on Marvel films) as they chat about growing up with comic books, the history of comics in Lincoln, and how comics have affected their lives.
From Lincoln to Hollywood and Back Again - Saturday 5PM-6PM, Altair
Trent Claus
Join Visual Effect Supervisor Trent Claus as he discusses working in the film industry over the last 18 years. We’ll look at the cutting-edge aging and de-aging effects from “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and the many subsequent films that followed. We'll discuss the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the way from the first film "Iron Man" up to "Endgame" and beyond: including the groundbreaking effects of “Skinny Steve” in “Captain America: The First Avenger”, and the creation and evolution of the character “Vision” from “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. We’ll also discuss a multitude of other films and recent effects, including work on the Star Wars series “The Mandalorian”, “The Book of Boba Fett”, “Obi-Wan Kenobi”, and "Ahsoka". Followed by a Q&A.
Grayet Works in Context: Steven Universe - Saturday 6PM-7PM, Vega
Kylie Dalton, Winter
A humble flight of analysis for those unfamiliar with the show or unfamiliar with the artist – or both. This panel will provide pedestrian but passionate art critique of Graye Muir-Lewis and how their fanwork exemplifies themes of identity, relation, trauma and healing.
Zine Workshop - Sunday 10:30AM-12PM, Deneb
Carrie Hansen
Zines are small-circulation, self-published works; they're often handmade and can include text, images, artwork, and other creative materials. Get ready to fold, cut, paste, and create your unique vision! This is a youth-friendly panel but all ages are welcome.
A Brief History of Matte Painting - Sunday 2PM-4PM, Altair
Trent Claus
From the dawn of cinema, Matte Painting has provided filmmakers with the ability to create vast sets, impossible environments, and to turn any location into something fantastic. Join VFX Supervisor Trent Claus as he takes a nostalgic look at the history of Matte Painting, its uses in filmmaking, and significant milestones. With examples from the dawn of film up until the present day, Trent will discuss the great artists of the medium and their amazing accomplishments. Talk will be followed by a Q&A.
Submitted Panels
A Beginner's Guide to Discworld - Friday 3PM-4PM, Altair
Ellis Bate, Patrick Bate
Curious about Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, but not sure where to begin? Learn about the setting and characters of the series, and get advice on how to begin exploring Discworld!
Secret of Steel (Or, Just Another Sword Petting Zoo) - Friday 7PM-8PM, Altair
"Zac" (F. L. Zacarola)
A discussion involving the necessary properties of steel to make a good sword blade, in addition to debunking steel myths, the latest and greatest in alloys, and the economics of getting it right.
Processing Your Writing Process - Friday 7PM-8PM, Deneb
Jessica Gryphon, Patricia Scott
Join writer Tricia Scott and writer/editor Jessica Gryphon in a discussion on how writers both new and experienced develop their writing processes, how not every writer writes every day, and why (maybe) that’s not actually a bad thing!
Pearl's Presentation Panel - Friday 8:00PM-9:00PM, Vega
Ray Daly
A panel for Steven Universe fans who are interested in Pearl and Amethyst as a pairing. The presenter will deliver a powerpoint presentation while dressed as Pearl from Steven Universe, then conduct a Q & A section. The presentation will be comedic and light-hearted.
Conquering the Tyranny of the Blank Page (15+) - Friday 9PM-11PM, Deneb
Patricia Scott
Patricia Scott will guide you through the process of creating a "magic" idea generator to help you avoid staring at a blank page. Everyone in the group will walk away with an idea generator of their very own. She will also share some writing tips she's learned over the years. Please be sure to bring a notebook and pen/something to use for note taking. This panel is being limited to 15-20 people.
Writing Is An Ocean: How Not to Drown - Saturday 10AM-12PM, Deneb
Jessica Gryphon
So you want to write a book? Great! But where to begin? And right there is usually where people get stuck. But, as Douglas Adams once wrote in large, friendly letters: DON’T PANIC. Consider this class your must-have life preserver as you brave the wild oceans of writing advice.
Price is $20 for convention attendees and $25 for non-attendees.
Expanding your fandom with crochet - Saturday 11AM-12PM, Vega
Kyle Brown
Come learn how you can combine a hobby with a fandom. Take your fandom with you wherever you go. Beginners can come learn what you need to start on a hobby that can let you make your favorite characters. Experienced thread crafters come share ideas.
Sticks and Wizards: A Fast-Paced Co-Op Adventure - Saturday 12PM-1PM, Vega
Eddie Fossler (Starcruiser Studios)
Do you enjoy the thrill of dungeon crawling and slaying monsters with your friends and family, but don’t have time to dedicate hours and hours to a traditional Dungeons and Dragons campaign? Join us for a presentation of the indie cooperative battle card game. “Sticks and Wizards”! Chocked full of epic monsters, powerful spells, and terrible puns, this co-op battle card game will have you weaving magic, cleaving goblins in half, and discovering the power of friendship, in an hour or less!
I’m An Editor: Ask Me Anything - Saturday 12PM-1PM, Deneb
Jessica Gryphon
Have you ever wanted to work with an editor but couldn’t afford one or even find one? Well, here’s your chance! With a bachelor’s degree in English & Communication, Minor in History, Jessica Gryphon has 17 years of experience working as both a professional editor and writer of science-fiction and fantasy novels. Her poetry and blog articles have been featured in Worldbuilding Magazine, The Adventist Review, and the online worldbuilding platform, World Anvil, where she was the co-winner of the 2021 Hero’s Journey Writing Contest. She also works as a ghostwriter, graphic designer, and web designer while crafting her own upcoming novels about vampires, elves, dragons, and one very evil unicorn. Ask her anything from beginner writing tips to how to achieve the ultimate writing dream: getting published!
The Wheel of Mortality Returns! - Saturday 1PM-2PM, Altair
Nebraska Swordfighter's Guild
A medieval weapon edutainment extravaganza! Come spin the Wheel of Mortality and learn how various medieval weapons were used against each other! Can swords cut through armor? How does a spear work against a dagger? What's the best way to fight a knight? All these questions and more will be answered by the demo team from the Nebraska Swordfighter's Guild. So step right up! Give the wheel a spin, and prepare to be entertained!
The Great Fantasy Feast - Saturday 1PM-2PM, Vega
Ellis Bate
If you've ever drooled over the descriptions of food in your favorite fantasy series, this panel is for you! We will be discussing recipes inspired by fantasy books, movies, and TV shows. Learn new recipes from the presenter, and bring copies of your own favorite to share!
Comic Book Physics 101: Radiation - Origins of the Hulk, the X-men, and the Fantastic 4 - Saturday 2PM-3PM, Altair
Dr. Daniel Claes
The radioactive origins of Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four and X-men, Children of the Atom!
Comic Book Physics 101: The Multiverse (and Other Dimensions) - Saturday 3PM-4PM, Altair
Dr. Daniel Claes
DC & Marvel imagine a multiverse of alternate realities; physicists search for other dimensions.
Competitive Reading Event using the "Eye of Argon" Reading Rules (18+) - Saturday 10PM - Sunday 1AM, Vega
Patricia Scott, Vanessa Montz, Dylan Nigh
An attempted reading of of a sci-fi/fantasy novel using the "Eye of Argon" reading rules. Once the hosts fail, we will let audience members try to give it their best shot.
Prehistoric Fiction: An Overview - Sunday 12PM-1PM, Vega
Dr. Michael Page
Prehistoric Fiction (PF) has a long lineage in science fiction and may be considered a genre in its own right. Works such as Jack London's Before Adam, J.H. Rosny's Quest for Fire, and Jean M. Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear are definitive works of Prehistoric Fiction, while works like Isaac Asimov's "The Ugly Little Boy," Harry Harrison's West of Eden, Michael Bishop's No Enemy But Time, and Robert J. Sawyer's Neanderthal Parallax series take an SF approach to PF. In this presentation, Dr. Page will explore the rich history of PF.
Craft-In - Sunday 12AM-1PM, Deneb
Yarn Guild of Lincoln
Bring your craft (fiber related or not) and join our friendly circle of Yarnies for welcoming conversation! We made a number of new friends last year, and would love to see you again this year! New this year: we will have some craft kits available for the kids who attend, and will coach them through the craft. Parents must attend with their child. See you there!
Fur and Fibers - Sunday 1PM-2PM, Deneb
Yarn Guild of Lincoln
This presentation will explore the different types of fur and fibers used to create yarn and fiber-based fabric. We will examine the origins, preparation, and properties of fabric created from the different furs and fibers, and how understanding this information can inform decision making when creating clothing, costumes, and accessories.