With the success of the Mars rover and the recent discovery of another planet in our solar system, exploring the cosmos has come back into the public eye as people start wondering about the basic question of “What, or who, else is out there?”
Once again, University College in Arts & Sciences, in conjunction with the Department of Physics in Arts & Sciences, is offering a series of “Science Saturdays” — four lectures in October that this year surround the theme “Understanding the Heavens.”
“This is a golden age for astronomy,” said Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., professor of physics, who will deliver one of the lectures.
“New telescopes, more sensitive ways of detecting light, infrared, X-rays and gamma rays. Great discoveries, but still many puzzles.
“In this fall’s lectures, we will provide some background information at a popular level, with no math.
“Fundamental to all of astronomy is the measurement of distances, and this will be the subject of the first lecture. In the following lectures, we will describe various measurements and the objects we observe — stars, galaxies — and cosmology, the largest-scale picture of our universe.”
The lectures are free and open to the public and will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. in Crow Hall, Room 201.
The schedule is listed below.
• Oct. 1: “The Measurement of Astronomical Distances,” given by Friedlander. Measurement of distances is fundamental to any understanding of the structure and behavior of celestial objects. The range of distances is truly astronomic, from relatively nearby planets to the farthest galaxies. Friedlander will describe a variety of methods for measuring distances.
• Oct. 8: “Detecting Astronomical Radiations,” presented by Martin Israel, Ph.D., professor of physics. Historically, all measurements were made from the ground, looking up through the atmosphere. Now we can make observations from satellites. Historically, all observations used light, but now we can use radio waves, infrared and ultraviolet radiation, and X- and gamma rays. What can we learn from these different parts of the spectrum?
• Oct. 15: “Planets, Stars and Galaxies,” given by Henric Krawczynski, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics. The structures and dimensions of planets, stars and galaxies differ widely. We can identify and then classify these objects through examining the radiation we receive from them. What is the structure of ordinary stars? What are white dwarfs and black holes, pulsars and quasars?
• Oct. 29: “Cosmology,” presented by Ramanath Cowsik, Ph.D., professor of physics. Cosmology is the study of the universe on the largest scale of distances and the longest scale of time. What is the evidence that the universe is expanding? The Big Bang theory is the current best model to describe the earliest stage of the evolution of the universe. What is the supporting evidence? Will the expansion continue or could the universe contract? What are current ideas of the structure and evolution of our universe?
For more information, call 935-6276 or 935-6700, or go online to wuphys.wustl.edu.