"Gravitational Waves" Hangout on 12 February
Alberto Conti BAE Systems, Inc.
One hundred years ago this month, Albert Einstein revolutionized our understanding of gravity — space and time were no longer a passive stage on which the universe evolved, but instead a dynamic participant. Perhaps Einstein's most fascinating prediction is the existence of gravitational waves, disturbances in spacetime that are generated by cataclysms such as the merger of two black holes. Scientists are on the cusp of making the first direct detection of these waves using ground-based interferometers and are making the first steps towards building gravitational-wave observatories in space. These efforts promise to usher in an entirely new field of astronomy.
Join Tony Darnell, Alberto Conti, and Harley Thronson along with guests Shane Larson (Adler Planetarium/Northwestern University), and Jess McIver (Caltech) of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration on Friday, 12 February, at 3:00 pm EST (20:00 UTC/GMT) for a discussion of the science and technology behind gravitational waves and the instruments used to observe them, including the Advanced Laser Interferometric Gravitational-wave Observatory (A-LIGO).
Please bring your questions and comments for our experts; we look forward to "Hanging Out" with you! If you use G+, then please let us know you're coming by RSVP'ing on our event page. You can also join us on YouTube and Facebook.
What Are "Future in Space" Hangouts?
"Future In Space" Hangouts bring the future of space astronomy and astronautics to you every month via Hangouts on Air. With the cooperation of both the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Astronautical Society (the other AAS), our hosts Tony Darnell, Alberto Conti, and Harley Thronson bring you topics that look beyond current space-astronomy research and missions and peer into the unfolding possibilities of what we may learn about the universe with members of the American Astronomical Society. We will peer into what we hope to learn about exoplanets, black holes, the early universe, quasars, and life in the universe along with what technologies might help us — and a whole host of other topics in space astronomy.
We will also explore the technology and engineering possibilities of space travel and research with members of the American Astronautical Society and probe what our future in space may look like and how we might get there. We will examine the underlying technologies of future space telescopes, orbiters, landers, and human space vehicles. We will delve into topics that help us understand the possibilities and limitations of human space flight and eventual human colonization of other worlds.
We hope you can join us each month as we bring experts from both AAS's — people who think about and plan for our future in space — to your computer, tablet, or smartphone. We invite you to bring your questions and comments and get ready to learn about the amazing possibilities for the future of space astronomy and exploration.