Event


>> This event was recorded and is available on YouTube. Use the link below. <<
"Cosmic Explosions, from Supernovae to Tidal Disruption Events"



NOVEMBER MEETING
In-person and via ZOOM
 (ID & Password Required)


Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 7 PM

TOPIC: "Cosmic Explosions, from Supernovae to Tidal Disruption Events"

SPEAKER: Dr. Yvette Cendes, Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics




Synopsis:
The biggest explosions in the universe dwarf any we see on Earth. In space, we regularly witness exploding stars that can shine brighter than the rest of a galaxy as a supernova, or a black hole ripping apart a star that's visible from billions of light years away in what's called a Tidal Disruption Event (TDE). In this talk, astrophysicist Yvette Cendes will discuss how we observe cosmic explosions from Earth and learn about them, from Chinese records thousands of years ago to her modern-day observations as a radio astronomer. This will include Yvette's research on supernovae, such as the closest one ever observed to Earth -- Supernova 1987A -- and outflows from TDEs that "spaghettify" stars that wander too close to black holes.

Speaker Bio: 
Dr. Yvette Cendes is a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, where she specializes in transient radio astronomy. Yvette has written for several publications, including AstronomyDiscover and Scientific American, and is currently the astronomy consultant for Guinness World Records. Additionally, Yvette is known by many as /u/Andromeda321 on Reddit, where her "astronomer here!" comments are read by millions around the world.
 

Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021

Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Eastern

Location: Seagrave Memorial Observatory
47 Peeptoad Road
North Scituate, RI 02857

Information for Visitors

Location Details

Seagrave Memorial Observatory
Home to an 8.25" Alvin Clark refractor, a 12" Patton reflector,and a 16" and 12" Meade SCT LX200 with a meeting hall on same property.

Notes:
2nd oldest astronomical society in the United States

Event Report

Comments and anecdotes about the event:
From Steve Hubbard: Last night's meeting of The Skyscrapers Amateur Astronomy society of RI. Dr. Yvette Cendes of Harvard CFA spoke to us about cosmic explosions and what happens when stars get torn apart by black holes. An enthusiastic crowd was on hand to listen. 40 attended in-person and 17 attended using Zoom. This event was recorded and will be available on our YouTube channel.
Photo From Skyscrapers November Meeting
Photo credit: Steve Hubbard. Dr.Yvette Cendes speaking to attendees at the November 6, 2021 meeting of Skyscrapers, Inc.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sat 6/27/2026
9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Eastern
Observatory Open Night Seagrave Memorial Observatory
47 Peeptoad Road
North Scituate, RI
Sat 7/11/2026
6 p.m. Eastern
July Monthly Meeting Seagrave Memorial Observatory
47 Peeptoad Road
North Scituate, RI
Fri 7/17/2026
9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Eastern
River Bend Farm River Bend Farm
287 Oak Street
Uxbridge, MA
Sat 7/18/2026
9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Eastern
Observatory Open Night Seagrave Memorial Observatory
47 Peeptoad Road
North Scituate, RI