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If you’re looking for something fascinating and free to do Friday, Oct. 14, venture to the edge of the universe with FIU physics professor James R. Webb.
Every semester, Webb steps out of the classroom and hosts a series of star parties, sharing his passion for astronomy with the general public. These nighttime events feature a brief lecture and refreshments, capped off by a chance at some stargazing, weather permitting.
The Oct. 14 event will feature a talk about recent findings that may put Einstein’s theory of relativity at risk – well, in theory. A few weeks ago, scientists in Geneva reported to have clocked neutrinos, an uncharged elementary particle believed to have little or no mass, traveling at a speed faster than light. This Friday, Webb takes a closer look at what implications this may have on the laws of physics and the universe as we know it.
Webb’s star party presentations are designed so anyone can understand the complexity of the night sky and are intended for the general public.
“Don’t think it will go over your head. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and get answers you will understand,” Webb said.
As a physicist and stargazer, Webb’s love for astronomy began as a child in Indiana where he caught his first glimpse of Saturn through a low-budget telescope from Kmart. Today, his research explores the very edge of the visible universe from telescopes at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in the Andes Mountains of Chile.
The star party begins at 8 p.m. with refreshments in room 145 of the Chemistry and Physics building, followed by stargazing on the outdoor observation pad.
For information about this event or any of the upcoming star parties, contact Webb at james.webb@fiu.edu.
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