Free Astronomy Talk: Measuring the Cosmic Microwave Background
At the Museum | Farrand Auditorium
For about 380,000 years after the Big Bang, the universe was a scalding stew of particles and photons. This stew was too dense for light to travel far. As the universe cooled and expanded, light could then travel freely. That light from 380,000 years ago is what we know as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Astronomers study this light to learn about the formation of the universe and the nature of the cosmos.
In this free astronomy talk presented by the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, Jennifer Ito, Ph.D., will discuss her involvement with the instrumentation that measures the CMB. The instruments are millimeter wavelength telescopes in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Dr. Ito is an assistant professor of physics and observatory director at nearby Westmont College. She has a B.A. in physics and astrophysics from UC Berkeley and an M.S. and Ph.D. from UC San Diego.
Talk starts at 7:30 PM, but astronomy-lovers are invited to mix and mingle before the lecture and enjoy a 7:00 PM planetarium show in Gladwin Planetarium. Planetarium seats are limited, so show up early if you want to be sure of a seat.
No tickets or reservations required. Questions? Contact Director of Education Rosina Garcia at rgarcia@sbnature2.org or 805-682-4711 ext. 172.
CMB image by NASA / WMAP Science Team
