Astronomy on Tap is hosting an event called “Death From the Skies” and “Space Weather” on Thursday, September 23rd from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Krannert Performing Arts Center. The event is all ages, free, and open to the public. There will be two speakers: University of Illinois professor Leslie Looney and graduate student Chris Tandoi.
Have you ever thought about all the ways astronomy can kill you? Leslie will talk about the dangers of asteroids, the Sun, supernovae, aliens, and the end of the Universe. The hazards continue with Chris’ talk about the Sun’s constant state of turmoil, from solar flares and coronal mass ejections to auroras at the poles. Rain clouds and heat waves aren’t the only kinds of weather you have to worry about!
Prof. Leslie Looney is a professor in the Illinois Astronomy Department with a main research focus on the early stages of star formation. In particular, he studies the circumstellar disk surrounding young protostars; these disks are the natal environment of planets. Chris Tandoi is a third year graduate student in the Astronomy Department who works in the South Pole Telescope collaboration, studying flare stars as well as building lenses for future experiments.
Top image by Barbara Benas and from the AoT Facebook event page.
