UofT AstroTour: The Life and Times of Supernova 1987A
Thirty years ago, the world was dazzled by the discovery of the fiery explosion of a dying star, called Supernova 1987A. This supernova was the brightest observed since the invention of the telescope 400 years ago, and the explosion and remnant has been actively studied ever since. In this talk, we will discuss the birth of Supernova 1987A, and also the monitoring and evolution of the supernova remnant in the years since. We will also discuss what the supernova has taught us about a variety of topics, from the discovery of ghostly neutrino particles to how stars die.
About the Speaker
Yvette Cendes is a guest PhD student at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on variable and transient sources in radio astronomy, ranging from things like supernovae to black holes that consume stars. Yvette is also an active science writer, whose work has appeared in places such as Discover, Astronomy, and Sky & Telescope.
The U of T Astronomy Public Tour, or AstroTour, is a monthly event operated by the graduate students of the U of T Astronomy Department. The Tour features a public lecture by a member of the Department on topics ranging from their research to great moments in astronomical history. Following the lecture, tour-goers can peer at the night sky through the Department’s balcony and dome telescopes, or watch a planetarium show run live by astronomer. Admission to the tour is free. Seating for the lecture is on a first-come, first-served basis (doors open ten minutes before the start of the lecture), and the telescope observing is walk-in.
Who can attend: Everyone
Fee: Free
Reservations: Only required for Planetarium Shows
Organized by: Graduate Astronomy Students Association. The AstroTours are generously financed by the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Location: University of Toronto, McLennan Physical Laboratories (MP 203), 60 St George St., Toronto, ON M5S 1A7