UofT AstroTour: On Pulsars: Ultra-Dense Material Spinning Dizzyingly Fast
Pulsars are magnetized spinning neutron stars that emit a beam of radiation. Since the first pulsar was discovered in 1967, thousands have been detected since, and they continue to be one of the most interesting objects in the sky. In this talk, Nikhil Mahajan will go over the history of pulsar astronomy, the reasons why we care about pulsars, and of course, what pulsars really are. Hopefully, this talk will leave you with an understanding of what current pulsar research is all about, and what it may lead to in the future.
About the Speaker
Nikhil Mahajan is a second year doctoral student, at the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, interested in understanding pulsars and their structure, and sometimes works to understand the interstellar medium. He loves cooking and photography.
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