THE MAY 2014 GENERAL MEETING OF THE CHICAGO ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
May 9, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. at the ADLER PLANETARIUM
Exploring the Cosmic Frontier with The Dark Energy Survey
Dr. Marcelle Soares-Santos, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
In 1998, two teams of astronomers studying distant supernovae made the remarkable discovery that the expansion of the universe is speeding up. Yet, according to Einstein's theory of General Relativity, gravity should lead to a slowing of the expansion. To explain cosmic acceleration, cosmologists are faced with two possibilities: Either 75% of the universe exists in an exotic form, now called dark energy, that exhibits a gravitational force opposite to the attractive gravity of ordinary matter, or General Relativity must be replaced by a new theory of gravity on cosmic scales. The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is designed shed light onto this problem. DES will probe the origin of the accelerating universe and help uncover the nature of dark energy by measuring the 14-billion-year history of cosmic expansion with high precision. This presentation will discuss the latest results of DES and the prospects for further achievements in this field.
Marcelle Soares-Santos is a researcher at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Center for Particle Astrophysics in Batavia, Illinois. Dr. Soares-Santos is leading analyses of galaxy clusters with early data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), a project conceived to better understand the physics underlying the accelerated expansion of the universe. She played a key role in the construction, testing and commissioning of the camera used for DES, known as DECam. She is also a participant in the Dark Energy Science Collaboration for the future Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and works on development of new detector technologies for future Cosmology experiments.
Please join us for what promises to be a very interesting presentation at the Adler Planetarium on May 9th at 7:00pm. Enter at the south entrance. To enter the Museum Campus, you must exit Lake Shore Drive at 18th street and follow the winding road around Soldier Field to the Planetarium. Street parking is available. Parking rates are $2.00 per hour, payable at the parking kiosks. The parking lot may also be open, but usually costs $16.
Or use the CTA. Red, Green and Orange Rapid Transit Trains cross Roosevelt Road (12th Street.) Now only the #146 Bus goes to the Adler Planetarium. Instead of turning on Balbo, southbound #146 service will remain on State until Roosevelt and will then make a stop at the Red, Green and Orange line station before continuing on to the Museum Campus. This will replace service previously provided by #12 Roosevelt buses.
Corinne Jembrzycki, Vice President / Program Chairperson
May 9, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. at the ADLER PLANETARIUM
Exploring the Cosmic Frontier with The Dark Energy Survey
Dr. Marcelle Soares-Santos, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
In 1998, two teams of astronomers studying distant supernovae made the remarkable discovery that the expansion of the universe is speeding up. Yet, according to Einstein's theory of General Relativity, gravity should lead to a slowing of the expansion. To explain cosmic acceleration, cosmologists are faced with two possibilities: Either 75% of the universe exists in an exotic form, now called dark energy, that exhibits a gravitational force opposite to the attractive gravity of ordinary matter, or General Relativity must be replaced by a new theory of gravity on cosmic scales. The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is designed shed light onto this problem. DES will probe the origin of the accelerating universe and help uncover the nature of dark energy by measuring the 14-billion-year history of cosmic expansion with high precision. This presentation will discuss the latest results of DES and the prospects for further achievements in this field.
Marcelle Soares-Santos is a researcher at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Center for Particle Astrophysics in Batavia, Illinois. Dr. Soares-Santos is leading analyses of galaxy clusters with early data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), a project conceived to better understand the physics underlying the accelerated expansion of the universe. She played a key role in the construction, testing and commissioning of the camera used for DES, known as DECam. She is also a participant in the Dark Energy Science Collaboration for the future Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and works on development of new detector technologies for future Cosmology experiments.
Please join us for what promises to be a very interesting presentation at the Adler Planetarium on May 9th at 7:00pm. Enter at the south entrance. To enter the Museum Campus, you must exit Lake Shore Drive at 18th street and follow the winding road around Soldier Field to the Planetarium. Street parking is available. Parking rates are $2.00 per hour, payable at the parking kiosks. The parking lot may also be open, but usually costs $16.
Or use the CTA. Red, Green and Orange Rapid Transit Trains cross Roosevelt Road (12th Street.) Now only the #146 Bus goes to the Adler Planetarium. Instead of turning on Balbo, southbound #146 service will remain on State until Roosevelt and will then make a stop at the Red, Green and Orange line station before continuing on to the Museum Campus. This will replace service previously provided by #12 Roosevelt buses.
Corinne Jembrzycki, Vice President / Program Chairperson
Date: Friday, 5/9/2014
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Central
Location: Adler Planetarium, 1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605-2403, Chicago, IL 60605-2403
