Stargazing Lecture

This events are back to occurring in-person, so if the weather allows, we will host our telescope-aided stargazing. Event will be hybrid, so we'll stream the lecture and the panel Q&A over YouTube livestream. In-person audience members will be required to prove full vaccination status at the door and wear a mask while in indoor spaces as per Caltech policy.

In addition, the event will be live-streamed here: https://youtu.be/Nl-PbrISJ30

8:00–8:30 p.m. - Public Lecture
8:30–10:00 p.m. - Panel Q&A and Guided Stargazing

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the newest, largest optical telescope in space, taking revolutionary images of astronomical targets, but why is it special, and is it living up to expectations? Why are some images blurry, while others feature 6-pointed stars? Do the colors mean anything or are they photoshopped? Why does it need a sunshield? Will this thing finally help us find aliens? I will address these questions and more as I describe the inner workings of the telescope, some of its new results, and how it promises to revolutionize astronomy like the Hubble Space Telescope has. I'll discuss the hottest science topics that JWST promises to deliver on as well as those that haven't made headlines.

About the Series

Stargazing Lectures are free lectures at a public level followed by a Q&A panel and guided stargazing with telescopes (weather permitting). All events are held at the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Caltech. No reservations are needed. Lectures are 30 minutes; stargazing and panel Q&A last 90 minutes. Stay only as long as you want.

Stargazing is only possible with clear skies, but the lecture and panel Q&A takes place regardless of weather.

For directions, weather updates, and more information, please visit: http://outreach.astro.caltech.edu.