Lecture & Stargazing: ALMA

Professor Nick Scoville, esteemed professor and principle investigator of the COSMOS survey, gave a lecture tonight on the revolutionary new telescope ALMA.  ALMA is an NSF-funded telescope, operating in the radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum, consisting of 66 individual radio dishes. It was built in the high mountains of the Andes in Northern Chile above 5,000 meters of elevation. 

All photographs were taken by Christophe Marcade.

We got started a little late due to some technical difficulties with the equipment in the lecture hall, but Professor Scoville regaled us with a broad discussion as to how both optical and radio telescopes work.  He showed us photos from his visit to the ALMA site, and taught us how scientists use data from the various telescopes combined as an interferometer to get very high resolution images back of gas and molecular cloud structures where stars are being born.  It was really an excellent talk!

After Professor Scoville's lecture, we hosted an expert Q&A panel answering questions on a variety of topics across astronomy, physics, and planetary science.  Simultaneously, audience members were given the opportunity to spy the heavens with our telescopes set up on Beckman Lawn.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and again I'm sorry about the technical difficulties with the A/V setup.  It won't happen again.

--Cameron

Lecture & Stargazing: The Invisible Universe Revealed

All photographs were taken by Christophe Marcade.

Tonight was our first night in a new location for our lecture series.  Due to some construction issues, we've now moved our lectures to Baxter Lecture Hall and our stargazing to Beckman Lawn (see our directions page for more info).  After some logistical issues we got started a few minutes late.  Anna Ho, our speaker for the night, gave a tremendous talk on the invisible universe, the universe we cannot directly perceive with our eyes.  

Anna described the various wavelengths of light in the electromagnetic spectrum, and how our eyes are only capable of viewing a very small fraction of them.  She described what sort of devices you have to create in order to "see" these other wavelengths of light, and what sort of objects you can then "see" like distance galaxies or the dust in between stars.  It was riveting!

After Anna's talk, the audience was welcome to stargaze out on the Beckman Lawn with our telescopes, or remain for a panel Q&A with our panel of experts.  Our panel consisted of Dr. Katherine Deck, Graduate Student Mike Wong, Dr. Anders Thygesen, and Dr. Cameron Hummels.  We had a great time talking with each other and our small audience.  

Stargazing out on the lawn was also pretty successful, and it looks like our new spot has less light pollution than the North Field.  We observed Albireo, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon.  Thanks to all 70 people who showed up at our new location!  We hope to see you again next month.

--Cameron