Images from the first five years of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory will be presented at Grand Valley State University on Wednesday, March 9, by Donna Young, from the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University.
Chandra is the most sophisticated X-ray satellite ever launched by NASA. It was designed to observe remnants of supernovae explosions, colliding galaxies, black holes, pulsars, quasars, and more. The collected data is changing and reshaping our theories about the evolution of stars and galaxies and will rewrite textbooks for decades to come.
The technology onboard the Chandra allows scientists to view, study, and examine the invisible X-ray universe from a 64-hour orbit that reaches one third the distance to the moon with the most precise mirrors in the world. This unprecedented accomplishment allows Chandra to image sound waves produced by a black hole, watch doom matter falling into a black hole get a new lease on life, and discover connections between supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
Young is the curriculum developer for Chandra at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, curriculum consultant and principal author of a new astronomy curriculum called "Hands On Astrophysics," and national event coordinator for the "Reach for the Stars" event for the National Science Olympiad.
Her lecture "Chandra's High Energy Vision" will run from 7-8:30 p.m. at 102 Loutit Lecture Hall in the Padnos Hall of Science on Grand Valley's Allendale campus. The event is free and open to students, teachers, and the community.
On Thursday, March 10, a Chandra Workshop for secondary teachers will be lead by Young. This event is co-sponsored by Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and the Regional Math and Science Center at Grand Valley State University.
Both events are in conjunction with the Year World of Physics. The year 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's publication of his three most important papers describing ideas that have since influenced all of modern physics. The World Year of Physics is a worldwide celebration of physics and its importance in our everyday lives.
A series of teacher, student, and community events are planned by Grand Valley State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Office, Physics Department, and Regional Math and Science Center now through the end of the year.
On Saturday, March 19, Grand Valley State University will once again host over 75 area schools competing in the Michigan Science Olympiad Regional Tournament.
Another major program, scheduled for October 29, 2005, to coincide with Grand Valley's Homecoming, will be a community open-house, Super Science Saturday: Celebrating Phenomenal Physics. Representative Vern Ehlers has been invited to attend this full day of science fun and learning aimed at teachers, students, families, and community members. Congressman Ehlers introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives, passed on July 7, to support the WYP and physics education.
For more information on these and other World Year of Physics events at Grand Valley State University, contact the Regional Math & Science Center: Mary Ann Sheline, director at (616) 331-2265, or Karen Meyers, assistant director at (616) 331-2515.
More information about the World Year of Physics is available at www.physics2005.org
