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Physics & Astronomy

Astronomical Society



The International Year of Astronomy

Four hundred years ago Galileo became the first scientist to point a telescope skyward, beginning the fields of astronomy and physics. From this historic event sprang the modern sciences, forever changing the way humanity sees itself and the universe.  In honor of the anniversary of this momentous event, 2009 has been named the International Year of Astronomy.

Educational Outreach

The BYU Astronomical Society is soliciting educational outreach opportunities among local schools, scout troops, community and youth groups. Members of the society will visit your group to present an exciting, hands-on demonstration about modern astronomy. In addition to classroom visits, groups are invited to schedule special outreach planetarium shows at BYU's Royden G. Derrick Planetarium, to visit the campus for more in-depth demonstrations, or to contact BYU's Society of Physics Students to schedule incredible physics and science demonstrations.

IYA Events at BYU

IYA Astronomy Public Lecture Series at BYU

 

Eagle Nebula

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at BYU will be hosting a public lecture series in the Harold B. Lee Library Auditorium on the first Tuesday of every month as part of the International Year of Astronomy Celebration.  The auditorium will open for seating at 7 pm, with the lecture starting at 7:30 pm, and running until 8:30 pm.  A question and answer session will proceed the lecture until 9 pm.  Weather and twilight permitting, the telescopes on top of the Eyring Science Center will be open after the lecture from 8:30 to 10 pm for public viewing.

The auditorium is located on the first floor of the Harold B. Lee Library in room 1060.  The room is on the west side of the library, just to your left as you come down the main stairs.
 

       Schedule

 

 

September 1
 

October 6
 

Novermber 3

 

 

December 1

  

Dr. David Neilsen, Assistant Professor of Physics, BYU
Topic - Einstein's Legacy: The Big Bang, Black Holes, and Gravity Waves

Dr. Paul S. Mills, Professor of Physics, UVU
Topic - The Mystery of the Sundial Enigma

Mike Joner, Associate Research Professor, BYU
Topic - Modern Astronomical Observatories: See How far we've come since Galileo!
        Explore the great observatories located both on the ground and in space, operating now and in the future, and the exciting discoveries they are making.

Dr. Jani Radebaugh, Assistant Professor of Geology, BYU
Topic - Alien Worlds of the Outer Solar System
        Satellites of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are worlds at once wholly alien and yet strangely Earth-like. The ultra-active volcanoes of Jupiter's moon Io may be like those on the early Earth, the sand seas and methane lakes of Saturn's moon Titan have sizes and shapes like those on our own planet, and geysers on  Saturn's Enceladus and Neptune's Triton could be beefed-up versions of Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Come and hear about how we use the Earth to help us understand alien worlds at the distant reaches of our solar system.

HBLL Special Collections Book Display

The Harold B. Lee Library, on the campus of Brigham Young University, will feature a rare book display of one-of-a-kind manuscripts from the special collections vault.

The most unique item on display will be a 1st edition Dialogo dei massimi sistemi, or Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo Galilei. This incredible and rare book, published in 1632, compares the Copernican solar system view with the traditional Ptolemaic system. A year after its publication it was suppressed by the Inquisition and placed on the Index of Forbidden Books until 1835. This particular edition, bound in vellum over wooden boards, has handwritten annotations and corrections, one of which is thought to be in Galileo's handwriting.

This incredible book as well as other astronomical jewels from the BYU vault will be on display on the 1st floor of the HBLL in the special collections exhibit during the months of March and October, 2009. For more information, please refer to these websites: BYU Library Catalog Reference, Wikipedia: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.

IYA Planetarium Shows

In addition to our regular Friday night shows, the BYU Astronomical Society will host special monthly IYA planetarium shows. These shows will be based upon NASA's "hot topics" for each month of 2009.  Shows begin on Fridays at 7 and 8pm in BYU's Royden G. Derrick Planetarium. See the planetarium schedule page for more information.
 

Date

August
September
October
November
December		 Topic

Rocks and Ice
Planets and Moons
Universe
Stars
Worlds

 

 
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