6:30 pm – Main Presentation
TITLE: A JWST View of Starburst Galaxies: Sweet Data Coming Soon!
PRESENTATION: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has already produced stunning results since it began sending back images and data in July. Among its first programs, JWST will study two famous “starburst” galaxies: M82 (the Cigar Galaxy) and NGC253 (the Sculptor Galaxy), as part of program #1701 in which Dr. Levy is deeply involved. These two well-studied galaxies are relatively nearby and are undergoing an intense burst of star formation at their centers. During this talk, Dr. Levy will highlight some of the key observations and results we have learned so far; from the “super” star clusters powering these galaxies’ extreme star formation to the large-scale outflows of material being expelled from them. Dr. Levy will explain the goals of her team’s JWST program and will show some preliminary images from JWST that have just been delivered.
BIO: Dr. Rebecca Levy is an expert on measuring the effects of stars on their environments in nearby galaxies. She uses telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum and around the globe to measure the motions of gas in and around galaxies. She is currently a National Science Foundation Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at Steward Observatory. Dr. Levy obtained her PhD in 2021 from the University of Maryland, where she studied the very center of a nearby “starbursting” galaxy NGC253 as well as ionized gas around galaxies. Dr. Levy obtained her B.S. degrees in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Arizona in 2015, and she is delighted to be back in Tucson for her postdoc position.
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
TITLE: Looking For Life: From Icy Comet Belts to the Habitable Zone
PRESENTATION: One of the main goals of astronomical sciences is to unravel whether we are alone in the Universe. In the next decade, exoplanetary science will focus on developing the technology for direct observation of exoplanets orbiting in the so-called Habitable Zone (HZ) of their host stars. However, it takes more than orbiting the HZ for a given planet to be a relevant target for the search for exolife. Dr. Virginie Faramaz will talk about the best candidate systems, and how the ‘debris disks’ beyond the HZ zone—in reservoirs analogous to the Solar System’s Kuiper Belt and Asteroid Belt—carry the seeds of life to the system’s innermost parts. Dr. Faramaz will explain how planets, comets, and dust grains are interconnected, as well as the techniques and equipment used to get information on their components.
BIO: Dr. Virginie Faramaz is a global specialist on planets and debris disk interactions. In her own words, she was “born and raised in Savoy in the French Alps, where we are crazy over fondue, raclette, tartiflette, and basically any dish that contains cheese, ham and potatoes.” Her PhD centered on theoretical aspects of planet-debris disks interactions. She worked with data obtained at ALMA in Chile’s Atacama Desert, and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, Chile. In 2017, she became an Exoplanet Science Initiative Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and also worked with the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExSci) at Caltech in California. As an Assistant Research Professor at UA’s Steward Observatory, she uses the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer to further her projects. Dr. Faramaz enjoys teaching science to a variety of audiences, especially children.
Special Note: The Raymond E. White 21” telescope will be available to view through, from 7 P.M. to 10:30 P.M., courtesy of Steward Observatory.
TAAA’s next general member meeting will be held on Friday, October 7, 2022. The Main Presentation will start at 6:30 P.M.This will be a hybrid meeting (both in person and on social media). TAAA members will receive a Zoom link should they wish to attend remotely. The public may attend in person or online through our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TucsonAstronomy/
(A recording will be available on YouTube a few days after the meeting at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRjjxnxMBbO98o801Bpk19w)
Special Note: The Raymond E. White 21” telescope will be available to view through from 7 PM to 10:30 PM, courtesy of Steward Observatory.
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
TITLE: A Sky Full of Satellites
PRESENTATION: With the creation of new low Earth-orbit satellite mega-constellations (containing 100 or more satellites), astronomers face a new reality, one with as many as 100,000 bright satellites which can ruin astrophotographic images, both scientific and aesthetic. While there are many concerns about the damage these constellations cause, our speaker, Harry Krantz, is currently observing them primarily to measure their brightness and evaluate current and future mitigation goals. Based on his extensive surveys and investigation of their brightness and behavior, Harry will inform us about the real impacts that astronomers can expect from satellite mega-constellations.
BIO: Harry Krantz is a PhD student of Astronomy at the University of Arizona Steward Observatory. His research focuses on observing and characterizing satellites and debris in Earth orbit. With a background in engineering and systems development, Harry plays a key role in creating new instruments, telescope systems, and techniques to overcome the unique challenges in observing satellites.
6:30 pm – Main Presentation
TITLE: The James Webb Space Telescope: observing from the Solar System to the Earliest Universe
PRESENTATION: This talk will describe the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), its instruments, and what we have learned so far in its mission. The 10 billion dollar telescope, now situated a million miles from Earth, was launched on December 25, 2021. With its sensitivity in the infrared spectrum, (which can’t be seen by the human eye), it promises to reveal much valuable new information about the universe in which we live. Its first images, released to the public on July 12, 2022, give a hint of what’s to come. Learn about them, JWST’s future, and how to keep up on JWST news.
BIO: Christopher Willmer is an astronomer at Steward Observatory (University of Arizona). He’s been part of the JWST Near Infrared Camera (NIRcam) team since 2007. His professional interest is mapping the distribution of galaxies in space and understanding how these systems evolve over time.
TAAA will participate in the annual Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival. We will have Solar Observing from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.
TAAA will participate in the annual Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival. We will have Solar Observing from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.
TAAA and Cochise County Library will be hosting a discussion of the Images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and a star party at the Elfrida Library.
TAAA and Cochise County Library will be hosting another discussion of the first release images from the James Webb Space Telescope at the Sunizona Alice Woods Library. TAAA will present the images for discussion and Q&A.
Join the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and Cochise County Libraries for an evening of stargazing. We will observe planets, galaxies, stars, star clusters, nebulae, and lots more. Bring a comfortable chair and layers to dress warmly.
