Stargazing Lecture

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/JcPOVv6kkdU

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

Black holes are arguably the strangest objects in our universe. While black holes themselves are black, the regions around them can glow brightly as the black holes consume nearby material. One of the primary ways scientists detect black holes is through the light emitted by these accretion disks, which funnel material inward to be devoured. But what exactly happens when you give a black hole something to eat? In this talk, I will describe the processes through which black holes, from the smallest to the largest, consume matter. I'll describe how astronomers use black hole dinnertime as a way to find and study these remarkable objects, what we still don't know, and how we hope to learn more soon.

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.