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Stargazing Lecture

Friday, November 8, 2024
8:00pm to 10:00pm
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Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics
Mapping the Universe in Blurred Lines
Delaney Dunne, PhD Candidate, Department of Astronomy, Caltech,
  • Public Event

Stargazing is dependent on clear weather, but lecture and Q&A happen regardless. Event will occur in-person, with lecture and Q&A additionally live-streamed on YouTube.


For remote viewers, the event will be live-streamed here:
https://youtube.com/live/GZjGuNJEjxk?feature=share

8:00–8:45 p.m. - Public Lecture
8:45–9:45 p.m. - Panel Q&A and Guided Stargazing

Astronomers have many reasons for wanting to map the universe — we want to understand its history, to study how galaxies formed and evolved, and to explain strange forces such as dark matter and dark energy. Typically in order to do this, we observe large surveys of many individual galaxies, but it's almost impossible to see the faintest galaxies with these surveys. There is an emerging technique for mapping the universe that makes it possible to see all galaxies: intentionally making the maps blurry! I'll discuss this new technique, known as Line Intensity Mapping, and describe an ongoing experiment called COMAP, which uses this technique to map out the universe at the most active period in its history.

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 and are free and open to all. No reservations are needed. Lectures are 30 minutes; stargazing and panel Q&A last 60 minutes. Stay only as long as you want.

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

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

For more information, please contact Cameron Hummels by email at chummels@caltech.edu.