Event Time:
Thursday, June 19, 2025 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Event Location:
Vancouver Public Library - Central Branch (Montalbano Family Theatre - level 8)
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2025-06-19T18:00:00
2025-06-19T19:30:00
How the Universe Works: An Introduction to Galactic Radio Astronomy
Event Information:
Curious about how the universe actually works? Join the experts from UBC’s Department of Physics and Astronomy to find out fun facts about everything from the Milky Way to radio waves in this new, accessible science series: How the Universe Works!. All are welcome!
Abstract:
Imagine that you look up on a dark clear night, seeing countless stars scattered across the sky, divided by the hazy band of the Milky Way—our Galaxy. The haziness of the Galactic Plane is caused by vast clouds of dust lining the Galactic disk, which obscure much of the Galaxy from our sight. But what if we could see beyond the dust, revealing the hidden structures and objects that share our cosmic home? This is where Galactic radio astronomy truly shines, allowing us to peer through the darkness and uncover the Milky Way’s secrets.
In this talk, we’ll step beyond the limits of optical astronomy and into the invisible world of radio waves, mapping our Galaxy in a whole new way. From the birth of radio astronomy to the frontiers of modern research, we’ll explore how these maps not only help us understand the Milky Way but also allow us to remove it from our view—clearing the way to see the universe beyond.
Bio:
Dr. Thomas J. Rennie is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia, where he specializes in analyzing and interpreting radio maps of the Milky Way. After obtaining his Ph.D., Dr. Rennie joined UBC to work on the Canadian Galactic Emission Mapper (CGEM) project, which focuses on a new telescope being built at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) in Penticton, BC. CGEM maps will play a key role in a global effort to further our understanding of our Galaxy and to look deeper and reveal the echo of the Big Bang (the Cosmic Microwave Background, or CMB) and probe the very earliest moments in the history of the universe.
Learn More:
About the Canadian Galactic Emission Mapper (CGEM) project: https://cgem.ubc.ca/
About the Dominion Radio Astrophysics Observatory (DRAO): https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/nrc-facilities/dominion-radio-astrophysical-observatory-research-facility
About the "Big Bang": https://science.nasa.gov/universe/the-big-bang/
About the Cosmic Microwave Background: https://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov/education/graphic_history/microwaves.html
About Thomas Rennie: https://tjrennie.github.io/index.html
Event Location:
Vancouver Public Library - Central Branch (Montalbano Family Theatre - level 8)