Dr. Darren Williams, 7:30 tonight, October 16th.
How Did the Moon Form?
This talk will be live at the Martz-Kohl Observatory and available online
via Zoom <https://martzobservatory.org/lecture-series-october-2024/> . You
are encouraged to come to the observatory to meet Dr. Williams and join in
our always lively Q&A after his talk. If the weather permits, there will be
public viewing opportunities. Dress for being outside as the telescope domes
are not heated.
How and when did the Moon form? Theories have come and gone. One current
theory is that when the Earth was young - less than one-hundred millions old
- a planet hit the Earth. If true, then the Moon might have formed out of
the collision debris launched into orbit around the devastated Earth.
Another theory is that the Moon was captured by the invisible hand of
gravity without a collision. Are one of these correct? How are we to know?!
In this talk, Dr. Darren Williams, professor of astronomy and astrophysics,
will describe what is known about the Moon and use facts to debate the
merits of old and new ideas for how and when it formed.
Dr. Darren Williams is a Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and
Planetary Science at Penn State Behrend in Erie Pennsylvania. As a teen, Dr.
Williams started his future career endeavors as an astronomy hobbyist here
at the Martz-Kohl Observatory.
In addition to teaching astronomy, he studies the climates, orbits,
observable characteristics, and dynamical evolution of planets and
satellites. He is perhaps best known for his innovative work on the
formation and habitability of exoplanetary moons, as well as the climates of
Earth-like planets with unusual spins and orbital shapes. His present work
is on the final stages of planetary accretion, the formation of the Moon,
and designs for a new miniature space telescope (The "Pale-Blue-Dot"
Telescope) to remotely observe the terrestrial planets at sub-pixel
resolution.
Zoom Meeting
A non-member donation of $5.00 is appreciated but not required for
presentations and events. You can donate on our donation page
<https://martzobservatory.org/donate/> . Thanks!
Time: October 16, 2024 at 7:30 PM, Eastern Time
Topic: Dr. Darren William
Meeting ID: 825 2625 5258
Passcode: program
Click the "One Clink Link" shown below. When prompted, click "open zoom.us"
in the dialog shown by your browser. If you don't see a dialog, click the
blue "Launch Meeting" in the webpage.
One Click Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82526255258?pwd=WHErUVlidERwaTBBQ0ZwRE02T2V1dz09
Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
Location:
Martz Observatory - Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Association, Inc.
176 Robbins Hill Rd.
PO Box 14
Frewsburg, NY 14738