Cold gas giant planets with long orbital periods make up half of the planets in our Solar System, yet we have observed only a handful of similar exoplanets around other stars. Is this due to the limitations set by our observation methods, or are cold giants truly rare in nature? In this talk, Miranda Herman  will explore the difficulties associated with finding such exoplanets, describe her efforts to increase the number of known cold giants, and discuss how they can inform us about the population of exoplanets as a whole.

Watch the recorded video: https://youtu.be/4X1qZvrTIfY

In this talk and slide show, Michael Watson will discuss his recent month-long trip to Australia, which included several nights of stargazing and astrophotography from the dark skies of the Australian Outback. He will talk about how he prepared for the trip, the equipment that he took, and how he produced the photos that you will see. His astrophotos will be interspersed with photos of some of the sights from around the Land Down Under.

An entertaining and educational ramble through the sky and the past, we will touch on a loose constellation of objects and ideas, from far flung galaxies to the newest earthbound telescopes that study them. In the end, we will tie them all together with a thread that connects them to each other and to the HAA. This talk is suitable for all ages and all levels of expertise, including beginners.

Watch the recorded video: https://youtu.be/_KN3mioNIHQ

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, winner of the 2018 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, is an accomplished scientist and champion for women in physics. As a graduate student in 1967, she co-discovered pulsars, a breakthrough widely considered one of the most important scientific advances of the 20th century. When the discovery of pulsars was recognized with the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics, the award went to her graduate advisor.

Cosmic rays are the most energetic particles in the universe. Travelling at speeds mere fractions off from the speed of light, they accelerated in the remnants of dying stars and supermassive black holes. In this talk, we’ll talk about how cosmic rays interact with and influence their surroundings as the move throughout galaxies and intergalactic space along magnetic field lines.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:10pm, 9:15pm

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:10pm, 9:15pm

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:10pm, 9:15pm