Explore Quasars, Galactic Nuclei, Black Holes Tonight

Learn the history of quasars at 7 p.m. today in the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium and view the full-dome film ‘Exploding Universe’ at 2 p.m. Saturday. Courtesy/PEEC
 
PEEC News:
 
Join Paul Arendt and Rick Wallace for a discussion of the history of Quasars at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 9 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.
 
Arendt and Wallace will take the audience through the history of quasars since their discovery in the 1950s and also examine active galactic nuclei and black holes at this talk.
 
Quasars, or quasi-stellar radio sources, were one of the most hotly debated enigmas in astronomy for 30 years, since they were discovered in the late 1950s. They appeared to be quasi-stellar, point-like sources smaller than our solar system, but emitting up to a thousand times more energy as the entire Milky Way Galaxy.
 
Later, less energetic active galactic nuclei were discovered that showed many similar aspects to the mysterious quasars. It was not until the experimental discovery of black holes that these objects began to be understood. At this talk, Arendt and Wallace will give an overview of the fascinating history of Quasars and explain the modern scientific interpretation for their explanation. Wallace helped with the observations of one of the first Quasars, 3C-273, in the 1970s, and Arendt has extensively studied the history of astronomy.
 
The nature center will also host a screening of the full-dome film “Exploding Universe” at 2 p.m, Saturday, Nov. 10. This film by Clark Planetarium Productions explores the explosive events that shaped the Universe. Audience members will enter a world where supernovas erupt, massive materials collide and protons give birth to life as we know it today.
 
Seating is limited for both the talk and movie, so call the nature center at 505.662.0460 or stop by to reserve tickets. Admission for both events is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. Events in the planetarium are not recommended for kids under age 4.
 
For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call 505.662.0460.
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