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How grows the Milky Way?
For Open to the public Format Public lecture followed by (weather permitting) astronomical viewing session Overview The Earth and our solar system reside within the Milky Way, a galaxy consisting of many billions of stars. How our galaxy grew over the eons is one of the most challenging problems in modern astronomy. Did our galaxy grow by forming new stars out of vast clouds of gas? Or is the Milky Way a cannibal, acquiring stars from smaller galaxies that strayed too close? Was our Solar System born in the Milky Way, or did it form elsewhere in the Universe? What role does dark matter play in the formation of galaxies? Dr Michael Brown from Monash's School of Physics will review the evidence from observation and discuss the latest theories. He will paint a picture not just of the Milky Way's history but also its future. Following the public lecture (weather permitting), an astronomical viewing session will be held on the top level of the multi-storey car park at the north west corner of the Clayton Campus. Please note that clear nights can be very cold, so bring warm clothing if you plan to attend the viewing session. Speakers Dr Michael Brown, Monash University, is a leading astronomer in the field of galaxy evolution, using telescopes and satellites to study how galaxies have grown over many billions of years. He has recently found that the very largest galaxies do not grow as rapidly as predicted by most theoreticians. To book Contact Doris Herft at the School of Mathematical Sciences, via email Doris.Herft@sci.monash.edu.au or phone +61 3 9905 4465. |
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