PUBLIC PROGRAM
Join us to hear Dr. Richard Kron from the University of Chicago speak about how galaxies evolve with cosmic time.
Program Description:
Galaxies are systems of stars, along with gas and dust between the stars, that can condense to form new generations of stars. A galaxy such as the Milky Way is a dynamic place: as time progresses, the galaxy changes for a number of interesting reasons. This kind of study is an excellent example of where observational astronomers and theoretical astronomers can compare their results to advance the field. By studying galaxies that are billions of light-years away, we are seeing them when they were much younger. In effect we are using large telescopes as time machines. The extreme version of this idea is to be able to probe distances that are so large that we witness the origin of galaxies, less than a billion years after the Big Bang. This goal is now just within our reach. The next generation of telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Giant Magellan Telescope will solve the problems we are working on now, but they will inevitably raise new ones.
After the program, if the weather permits, members of the club will set up telescopes in the parking lot for some viewing of the night sky.
Date: Friday, 5/16/2014
Time: 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Central
Location: Volo Bog, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside, IL 60041