UofT AstroTour: The Magnificent Death of Stars
Source of many wonders, stars also have finite lifetimes, which can end with a shredding breath before falling into obscurity – as our sun shall one day – or with magnificent explosions (supernovae) that can outshine a whole galaxy for a day. Many mysteries remain yet to be unveiled and we will explore some of them in this talk. There are at least two mechanisms that can lead to a supernova and one of them was paramount to probe the accelerated expansion of the universe in the late 90’s, research that was awarded the Physics Nobel Prize of 2011 and supports the existence of the so called ‘dark energy’. The introduction of this talk will consist of historical observations of supernovae and the evolution of stars until they meet their fate. Subsequently, I will show some images and artistic renditions of exploding stars, ending the talk with a discussion of well-established theories and subjects of active research.
About the Speaker
Epson Heringer is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, currently working on the models to assess the predecessors of supernovae designated ‘Type Ia’ (those used to measure the expansion rate of the universe.) He obtained a Master’s degree from University of Victoria conducting research on the occurrence rate of supernovae and is now interested in probing the possibility that there are many ways to produce supernovae. In his free time, Epson enjoys watching or playing soccer, hanging out with cats or, if it is too cold for either, clumsily trying to ice-skate.
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