Physics Program Presents

EVENT CANCELED-will be postponed to another date

Singing Exoplanets and the Unmapped Sky: The Joys and Challenges of Low Frequency Radio Astronomy

We have maps of the sky across the electromagnetic spectrum - from high energy gamma rays through UV, optical, and infrared to radio frequencies.  One part of the spectrum is yet unexplored, however - very low frequency radio (< 10 MHz / 30 m).  This part of the spectrum is blocked by the Earth's ionosphere and is challenging to observe due to its very long wavelengths.  If we could access the low frequency radio sky, we could look back in time to the cosmological Dark Ages, study the plasma and magnetic fields that fill the spaces between stars, track solar storms as they barrel toward Earth, and listen for the radio signatures of exoplanetary magnetic fields. In this talk, I'll discuss low frequency radio science and past, present, and future efforts to build telescopes that can observe the low frequency sky.  I will describe the AERO-VISTA mission, which will map Earth's auroral radio environment.  I will also discuss future telescope concepts on the Moon and in space that seek to unveil this hidden part of the EM spectrum.

---

For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5

Location: Hegeman 107

Subscribe: Save this Event: Subscribe / .ics File