Prof. Hall will be talking about "The use of an authentic research experience in astronomy to teach the process of science", accessible from the "University of Alaska - Anchorage" link on this website:
http://www.cur.org/governance/divisions/_physicsastronomy_research_vignettes/
...which was featured in a recent AAS newsletter:
http://aas.org/posts/opportunity/2015/09/new-resource-seeks-input-help-grow-undergrad-research
The University of Alaska - Anchorage has a website for their Research-Based Science Education for Undergraduates:
http://rbseu.uaa.alaska.edu/
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
free-floating planet from CFHT?
Maybe, or maybe just another low-temperature T dwarf.
http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1245/eso1245a.pdf
http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1245/eso1245a.pdf
Stellar mass vs. radius
Theoretical models are still systematically off in their predictions of the stellar mass-radius relation; see page 33 of http://arxiv.org/pdf/1211.2527.pdf
...but the discrepancies are probably just due to uncertainties in the input physics and approximations used, not to fundamental flaws in our understanding of the universe.
...but the discrepancies are probably just due to uncertainties in the input physics and approximations used, not to fundamental flaws in our understanding of the universe.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Science Communication Resources
From a "Journalism 101 for Scientists" workshop I attended here at York:
* Science Media Centre of Canada (click on "For Scientists")
* Publications for scientists from the U.K. Science Media Centre
* Books to look for: "Escape from the ivory tower" and "Don't be such a scientist"
* Science Media Centre of Canada (click on "For Scientists")
* Publications for scientists from the U.K. Science Media Centre
* Books to look for: "Escape from the ivory tower" and "Don't be such a scientist"
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Welcome
This blog is now the general website for the astronomy group at York University. We'll be posting more often from now on, so stay tuned!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
CFHT: The Next Generation
Just building a little publicity for a worthy project that will likely get mentioned at tomorrow's AJC:
http://orca.phys.uvic.ca/~pcote/ngcfht/Site/The_Next_Generation_CFHT.html
http://orca.phys.uvic.ca/~pcote/ngcfht/Site/The_Next_Generation_CFHT.html
Friday, March 11, 2011
Recap: March 9
Stu Dack lead our discussion this week. We spoke of the (non)detection of life on meteorites, the messenger insertion coming up, the discovery landing, Cassini Time lapse, and a cool video from Marshall
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josefranciscosalgado/4135738280/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josefranciscosalgado/4135738280/
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
AJC: Reading Week Edition
Purpose of Posters:
-ambience - we should represent ourselves as a group of astronomers
-to educate - to the informed layperson let's give them the 5 big questions
-marshall asks paul/minions to propose hardward needed for a screen to hang outside PSE 321
-dr. john offers videos from pheonix mission
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Recap: 16 Feb 2011
Laura was our host for today's journal club. Thanks to her for doing so! Things we talked about were:
Data at risk. Is all astronomical data at risk. There is an international call for preserving that data.
Brasil is joining ESO, the first non-European member! Read up on it here.
Talked a bit about TMT, worrying about money! And there has been some discussion through Victoria/HIA about converting CFHT into a 10m class dedicated spectroscopic telescope. A great idea....but is there money for that?
IceCube Neutrino observatory has begun operations! Check out their website!
thanks for hosting Laura!
Reading Week next week
Data at risk. Is all astronomical data at risk. There is an international call for preserving that data.
Brasil is joining ESO, the first non-European member! Read up on it here.
Talked a bit about TMT, worrying about money! And there has been some discussion through Victoria/HIA about converting CFHT into a 10m class dedicated spectroscopic telescope. A great idea....but is there money for that?
IceCube Neutrino observatory has begun operations! Check out their website!
thanks for hosting Laura!
Reading Week next week
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Recap: Feb 9 2011
What to do with the 3rd floor hallway?
-5 posters educational posters/4 spots for research - 9 spots total
-each prof/grad team take ownership of one educational
Big Questions to address: (with possible leading prof)
Exoplanets - paul
Cosmology - Dark Matter - Dark Energy - Big Bang - pat
end points of stellar evolution - norbert
large scale structure - marshall
active galactic nuclei/black holes - michael
life in the universe?...takers?
instrumentation?
why is the sky blue?
why is the sunset red?
-should include our OWN research in this. not necessarily have textbook images. include a York University credit in each poster i.e. graphics/images/stuff WE do
GOAL: have done for september 2011
Michael Bientenhotz still has the canadian images from IYA - to keep in mind - 1st floor maybe
Other Journal Club Topics: Led by Bahman
Largest black hole ever measured in M87.
E-merlin (radio telescope in UK) should increase resolution. Here's an example of what it will be doing.
Most distant galaxy cluster measured using Spitzer, Chandra, HST, and Subaru. z~5.3.
see you all next week!
-5 posters educational posters/4 spots for research - 9 spots total
-each prof/grad team take ownership of one educational
Big Questions to address: (with possible leading prof)
Exoplanets - paul
Cosmology - Dark Matter - Dark Energy - Big Bang - pat
end points of stellar evolution - norbert
large scale structure - marshall
active galactic nuclei/black holes - michael
life in the universe?...takers?
instrumentation?
why is the sky blue?
why is the sunset red?
-should include our OWN research in this. not necessarily have textbook images. include a York University credit in each poster i.e. graphics/images/stuff WE do
GOAL: have done for september 2011
Michael Bientenhotz still has the canadian images from IYA - to keep in mind - 1st floor maybe
-podcasts for different topics here - michael/paul worked on this
-can include youtube in this
-itunes for podcasting
Other Journal Club Topics: Led by Bahman
Largest black hole ever measured in M87.
E-merlin (radio telescope in UK) should increase resolution. Here's an example of what it will be doing.
Most distant galaxy cluster measured using Spitzer, Chandra, HST, and Subaru. z~5.3.
see you all next week!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Recap: Jan 19
Marshall McCall and Paul Delaney covered the news for this week, here is a list of the talking points:
Marshall told us about the latest plank press releases. Check out the website for all that.
John Moores told us about his new paper on northern latitude Mars fog. doi: 10.1029/2010GL046315
On the possibility that life could have been seeded by asteroids.
NASA is still hoping for Spirit to answer back as the Martian winter lifts. Let's cross our fingers!
Astronaut set to lead the space walks on mission STS-133 to the space station has broken his hip while on a Bicycle. NASA appoints new lead.
The lunar interior appears to be more complicated than previously thought. Perhaps there's a liquid core after all.
Thanks to all who came. Lianne and Paul will be leading next week's discussion!
Marshall told us about the latest plank press releases. Check out the website for all that.
John Moores told us about his new paper on northern latitude Mars fog. doi: 10.1029/2010GL046315
On the possibility that life could have been seeded by asteroids.
NASA is still hoping for Spirit to answer back as the Martian winter lifts. Let's cross our fingers!
Astronaut set to lead the space walks on mission STS-133 to the space station has broken his hip while on a Bicycle. NASA appoints new lead.
The lunar interior appears to be more complicated than previously thought. Perhaps there's a liquid core after all.
Thanks to all who came. Lianne and Paul will be leading next week's discussion!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Recap: Nov 24 and Dec 1
hello all. A double post today to catch up the last couple of weeks!
On Nov. 24 Laura was kind enough to host journal club. here is a list of things we talked about!
Penrose claims to have glimpsed the universe before the big bang. you know you want to read more.
the first methane dwarf obriting a dead star.
Europe maintains its presence on frontier
Astronomers confirm the first exo-planet that originated OUTSIDE the milky way. really cool article.
York's Scott Menary and his team at CERN trap anti-hydrogen for the first time!
On Dec 1 both Lianne and Jesse brought some cool stories to talk about:
Astronomers at UPenn have found a way to test for higher spatial dimensions in space. By observing the lensing effects of a black hole.
More from Cassini: Rhea has an oxygen atmosphere.....that is 5 trillion times less dense than Earth's.
More from Cassini: Enceladus (see Dr. John for pronunciation) has warm cracks that seem to change frequently.
Jupiter's belt is on its way back! exciting....
NASA to hold press conference on some astro-biology.
thanks everyone!
On Nov. 24 Laura was kind enough to host journal club. here is a list of things we talked about!
Penrose claims to have glimpsed the universe before the big bang. you know you want to read more.
the first methane dwarf obriting a dead star.
Europe maintains its presence on frontier
Astronomers confirm the first exo-planet that originated OUTSIDE the milky way. really cool article.
York's Scott Menary and his team at CERN trap anti-hydrogen for the first time!
On Dec 1 both Lianne and Jesse brought some cool stories to talk about:
Astronomers at UPenn have found a way to test for higher spatial dimensions in space. By observing the lensing effects of a black hole.
More from Cassini: Rhea has an oxygen atmosphere.....that is 5 trillion times less dense than Earth's.
More from Cassini: Enceladus (see Dr. John for pronunciation) has warm cracks that seem to change frequently.
Jupiter's belt is on its way back! exciting....
NASA to hold press conference on some astro-biology.
thanks everyone!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Recap: Nov. 17th
thanks to Jesse for bringing some stories. here is a list of talking points
Eris has performed a stellar occultation, find that it's actually smaller than pluto.
A cosmologists wish list: here.
Supernova 1979C may have been the birth of a new black hole!
Has a nearby quasar just turned off?
Allan Sandage has passed away. He was a prolific astronomer, and contributed much to the community. He will be missed.
Gemini South has refurbished their mirror.
Eris has performed a stellar occultation, find that it's actually smaller than pluto.
A cosmologists wish list: here.
Supernova 1979C may have been the birth of a new black hole!
Has a nearby quasar just turned off?
Allan Sandage has passed away. He was a prolific astronomer, and contributed much to the community. He will be missed.
Gemini South has refurbished their mirror.
Recap: Nov. 10th
Thanks to stu for handling the stories this week! some of the things we covered.
There may be a link between barred spirals and the size of the galaxy. read more here.
the sun is ramping up! SDO is going to get its money's worth.
The Large Hadron Collider has made its first lead ion collisions.
The leonids are ramping up!
Close up on comet hartley by EPOXI.
Climate change in the cosmic past?
The Fermi telescope has found two giant spheres of Gamma-ray emitting bubbles roughly half the size of the galaxy. very interesting...not well understood.
thanks to all for coming
There may be a link between barred spirals and the size of the galaxy. read more here.
the sun is ramping up! SDO is going to get its money's worth.
The Large Hadron Collider has made its first lead ion collisions.
The leonids are ramping up!
Close up on comet hartley by EPOXI.
Climate change in the cosmic past?
The Fermi telescope has found two giant spheres of Gamma-ray emitting bubbles roughly half the size of the galaxy. very interesting...not well understood.
thanks to all for coming
Friday, November 5, 2010
Recap: Nov. 3rd - Host: Ted Rudyk
Thanks to Ted for bringing the stories this week, and thanks for everyone who came out! Here are some of the things that were covered.
The Kepler spacecraft can 'hear' a red giant singing in space.
Saturn's B ring has a lot more to say, and we've translated it.
The gullies on mars can be created by carbon dioxide, not water.
How common is a planetary system like ours? The keck observatory has an answer.
Amateur astronomer Mike Lynch's telescope blew up! The telescope happened to be cover-less during the day, and the sun crossed the mirror concentrating the light on the secondary mirror.
Robonaut 2 is heading skyward in december aboard discovery, check out its jobs here.
thanks to all for coming, see you next week!
The Kepler spacecraft can 'hear' a red giant singing in space.
Saturn's B ring has a lot more to say, and we've translated it.
The gullies on mars can be created by carbon dioxide, not water.
How common is a planetary system like ours? The keck observatory has an answer.
Amateur astronomer Mike Lynch's telescope blew up! The telescope happened to be cover-less during the day, and the sun crossed the mirror concentrating the light on the secondary mirror.
Robonaut 2 is heading skyward in december aboard discovery, check out its jobs here.
thanks to all for coming, see you next week!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Recap: Oct 13
While it is reading week at York University, we were still able to draw few hard core astronomers/planetary scientists. Lots of fun was had, here is a list of the topics of discussion:
A Russian company is planning on launching a private space hotel in 2016. Should we get our cheque books ready?
Congress finally approves a NASA funding package. FYI: there will be 3 more shuttle launches.
Gliese 581g still has to make it through a lot more scrutiny before anything is really known about it. For instance, a group out of europe were unable to find the planet that Vogt et al did.
China has launched Chang'e 2 which is now orbiting the moon 100 km up. look for some high definition images of the surface in the future.
Enceladus has been quite active in the news and on its surface due to a really awesome cassini picture of some geysers.
thanks to all for participating, we'll see you next week!
A Russian company is planning on launching a private space hotel in 2016. Should we get our cheque books ready?
Congress finally approves a NASA funding package. FYI: there will be 3 more shuttle launches.
Gliese 581g still has to make it through a lot more scrutiny before anything is really known about it. For instance, a group out of europe were unable to find the planet that Vogt et al did.
China has launched Chang'e 2 which is now orbiting the moon 100 km up. look for some high definition images of the surface in the future.
Enceladus has been quite active in the news and on its surface due to a really awesome cassini picture of some geysers.
thanks to all for participating, we'll see you next week!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Research Jamboree: Oct 6t
On Wednesday Oct 6th 2010 the Astronomy Journal Club will be hosting a research jamboree. Our jamboree will feature short presentations by the actively researching faculty and graduate students in the departments of physics and astronomy and ESSE. Each presenter will be given 2 minutes to describe the nature of their research and its impacts on their field.
All faculty, graduates, and undergraduates are encouraged to attend the event. As a faculty or graduate, it is an excellent way to stay current on your department's research. As an undergraduate, it provides you with the opportunity to see what research is occurring here at York, and helps you make the decision of what direction to take in your academic career.
The jamboree will take place on Wednesday Oct 6th at 12:30pm. Tea and Coffee will be provided.
For Presenters:
Should you wish to participate, please email Jesse Rogerson (rogerson@yorku.ca). Each presenter is given 2 minutes, which will be strictly enforced. Should you go over the 2 min limit, an alarm will sound continuously. You may use as many slides as you like in the time frame. Please submit the slides to Jesse in PDF format only by Monday October 4th at midnight.
thank you to all those participating!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Recap: Sept 29
Thanks to all for coming out, here is a list of the things we talked about.
The US House of Representatives voted on the Senate version of the NASA funding bill on wednesday. It has been passed. Check out phil plait's blog for details.
Gemini North has used its Near Infrared Imager and Spectrometer to look at one of the coldest brown dwarfs ever known, and it's in our own backyard (just 13 ly away).
The STEREO satellites have take some images of Mercury's 'comet-like' tail. The tail was observed previously during one of MESSENGER's flybys in 2008. Check out here for details.
JWST has passed a pivotal test, the freezing vacuum of space. In order to perform properly, JWST must not change shape when it cools down to 27 K in space. It passed the test!
The LRO has taken a very cool mosaic of the south pole of the moon. In it you can see the places where LCROSS impacted, and the craters where no sunlight has been seen for billions of years.
Cassini continues to awe its followers, it has put together a video tracking aurorae in the poles of saturn. check out the video here.
Weather report on titan, planning a vacation?
The US House of Representatives voted on the Senate version of the NASA funding bill on wednesday. It has been passed. Check out phil plait's blog for details.
Gemini North has used its Near Infrared Imager and Spectrometer to look at one of the coldest brown dwarfs ever known, and it's in our own backyard (just 13 ly away).
The STEREO satellites have take some images of Mercury's 'comet-like' tail. The tail was observed previously during one of MESSENGER's flybys in 2008. Check out here for details.
JWST has passed a pivotal test, the freezing vacuum of space. In order to perform properly, JWST must not change shape when it cools down to 27 K in space. It passed the test!
The LRO has taken a very cool mosaic of the south pole of the moon. In it you can see the places where LCROSS impacted, and the craters where no sunlight has been seen for billions of years.
Cassini continues to awe its followers, it has put together a video tracking aurorae in the poles of saturn. check out the video here.
Weather report on titan, planning a vacation?
Weekly Brain Teaser: Answer
QUESTION: If you were to scoop up a 10 cm cube of material from an average neutron star, how much mass would the cube have?
ANSWER: at a rough average density of 10^17 kg/m^3, if you scooped up a 0.10 m cube of material from a neutron star, it would weigh roughly 10^14 kg
This is roughly the mass of Halley's Comet, which has a mean diameter of 11 km. All that mass packed into a 10cm x 10cm x 10cm cube. Neutron stars are dense!
ANSWER: at a rough average density of 10^17 kg/m^3, if you scooped up a 0.10 m cube of material from a neutron star, it would weigh roughly 10^14 kg
This is roughly the mass of Halley's Comet, which has a mean diameter of 11 km. All that mass packed into a 10cm x 10cm x 10cm cube. Neutron stars are dense!
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