http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Public lectures by noted astronomers on new developments in our exploration of the universe. These lectures are recorded at Foothill College near San Francisco. Feeder 1.5.10(880) http://reinventedsoftware.com/feeder/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en http://astrosociety.org/edu/podcast/sval.xml Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:16:51 -0700 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:16:51 -0700 Foothill College astronomy, space science, public lectures, talks by astronomers, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Foothill College, NASA, Ames Research Center, SETI Institute, Andrew Fraknoi, cosmology, universe, solar system no Leslie Proudfit webmaster@astrosociety.org no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:16:43 -0700 how-galaxies-were-cooked-from-the-primordial-soup Dr. Dana Backman introduces us to SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. This remarkable airborne telescope began scientific research flights in 2010 and is already returning exciting discoveries. Recorded March 6, 2013 Dr. Dana Backman introduces us to SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. This remarkable airborne telescope began scientific research flights in 2010 and is already returning exciting discoveries. Recorded March 6, 2013 no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:16:43 -0700 how-galaxies-were-cooked-from-the-primordial-soup Dr. Sandra Faber reviews the prevailing "Cold Dark Matter" theory for galaxy formation and compares its predictions to present-day observations. Recorded February 6, 2013. The lumpiness of today's universe of galaxies is a fundamental characteristic that took billions of years to grow. Dr. Sandra Faber of the University of California, Santa Cruz and University of California Observatories reviews the prevailing "Cold Dark Matter" theory for galaxy formation (which she helped create) and compares its predictions to present-day observations. It's a remarkable saga involving invisible dark energy and matter, the properties of the Universe an instant after it was born, and the creation of structure from quantum fluctuations. (Just a few days before giving this talk, Dr. Faber received the 2013 National Medal of Science from President Obama, and she shares an anecdote from that ceremony.) Recorded February 6, 2013 no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:16:43 -0700 black-holes-the-end-of-time-or-a Dr. Blandford summarizes why scientists now think that black holes of various sizes actually do exist, describes some of their strange properties, and explains their "environmental impact" on the universe at large. Recorded November 14, 2012. While black holes are popularly associated with death and doom, astrophysicists increasingly see them as creators, not destroyers -- playing a major role in the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets. Dr. Roger Blandford of the Kavli Institute at Stanford University (whose research interests include black holes, galaxies, and cosmology) summarizes why scientists now think that black holes of various sizes actually do exist, describes some of their strange properties, and explains their "environmental impact" on the universe at large. Recorded November 14, 2012 no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:16:43 -0700 finding-the-next-earth-the-latest-results-from Dr. Batalha describes the techniques used by the Kepler team to identify planets orbiting other stars and discusses the planets already found. Recorded Oct. 17, 2012. Dr. Natalie Batalha (Mission Scientist for the Kepler Mission searching for exoplanets, NASA Ames Res. Ctr.) describes the techniques used by the Kepler team to identify planets orbiting other stars and updates us on the remarkable progress they are making in the search for Earth-sized worlds. She discusses the planets already found and shares what we know so far about the thousands of candidate planets that are in the Kepler data. Recorded October 17, 2012 no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:16:43 -0700 multiple-universes-and-cosmic-inflation-the-quest Dr. Anthony Aguirre (University of California at Santa Cruz) traces the genesis of cosmic inflation, explores some of its implications, and discusses how scientists are seeking ways to test this idea. Recorded May 18, 2011. Our improving understanding of the cosmos points to an early epoch during which the universe expanded at a stupendous rate to create the vast amount of space we can observe. Cosmologist are now coming to believe that this "cosmic inflation" may do much more: in many versions, inflation goes on forever, generating not just our observable universe but also infinitely many such regions with similar or different properties, together forming a staggeringly complex and vast "multiverse". Dr. Anthony Aguirre (University of California at Santa Cruz) traces the genesis of this idea, explores some of its implications, and discusses how scientists are seeking ways to test this idea. Recorded May 18, 2011. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Fri, 13 May 2011 14:45:59 -0700 our-explosive-sun-new-views-of-the-nearest-star-a Dr. Thomas Berger of the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab takes us on a beautiful tour through our Sun's atmosphere with images and movies from recent satellite missions. Recorded April 20, 2011. Recent satellite missions are giving scientists dramatic new views of the Sun and the huge magnetic explosions in its outer layers that cause flares and the ejections of huge masses of superheated gas. Dr. Thomas Berger of the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab takes us on a beautiful tour through our Sun's atmosphere with images and movies from these missions. Recorded April 20, 2011. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:19:16 -0700 saturns-moon-titan-a-world-with-rivers-lakes-a Dr. Chris McKay (NASA Ames Research Center, co-investigator on the Huygens probe that landed on Titan) discuss the new picture we have of Titan, Saturn's largest satellite, with its lakes, rivers, and rocks made of water ice. Recorded March 9, 2011. Titan, Saturn's largest satellite, is the only moon with a thick atmosphere. In many ways, Titan is a cold twin of the Earth, with liquid methane playing the same role there as water plays on our planet. Life on Earth is based on liquid water; could there be life on Titan based on liquid methane? Dr. Chris McKay from the NASA Ames Research Center (co-investigator on the Huygens probe that landed on Titan) discuss the new picture we have of this alien world, with its lakes, its rivers, and its rocks made of water ice. Recorded March 9, 2011. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:55:57 -0800 how-i-killed-pluto-and-why-it-had-it-coming Dr. Michael Brown of Caltech shares the inside story of how he discovered "other Pluto's" out there beyond Neptune, resulting in a private and public controversy that led to a redefinition of what a planet is. Recorded January 19, 2011. Dr. Michael Brown of Caltech shares the inside story of how he discovered "other Pluto's" out there beyond Neptune, including Eris, which is now known to be about the same size as Pluto. He named that new world for the goddess of discord, because, as he describes with his characteristic humor, its discovery resulted in a private and public controversy that led to a redefinition of what a planet is. Recorded January 19, 2011. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:43:35 -0800 catching-shadows-keplers-search-for-new-worlds Dr. Natalie Batalha (San Jose State University) introduces NASA's Kepler spacecraft's quest for planets elsewhere, describes the techniques used by the Kepler team, and shares some of the mission discoveries to date. NASA's Kepler spacecraft, launched in March 2009, is a mission designed to survey a slice of the Milky Way Galaxy to identify planets orbiting other stars. Kepler has the advantage that it can find planets as small as Earth in or near the habitable zone of each star. Dr. Natalie Batalha (San Jose State University) introduces the quest for planets elsewhere, describes the techniques used by the Kepler team, and shares some of the mission discoveries to date. Recorded November 17, 2010. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:01:37 -0800 the-ultimate-fate-of-the-solar-system-and-the-mus Dr. Gregory Laughlin of the University of California, Santa Cruz shows how the delicate gravitational interplay between the planets can be interpreted as a true "music of the spheres". The long-term fate of the planets in our Solar System has intrigued astronomers and mathematicians for over 300 years. Although the planetary orbits are often held up as a model of clockwork regularity, the Solar System is in truth an extremely complex and chaotic system. Dr. Gregory Laughlin of the University of California, Santa Cruz explains how recent advances in computing technology have finally given us a solution to the problem. He also shows how the delicate gravitational interplay between the planets can be interpreted as a true "music of the spheres", and auditions the unsettling compositions that can result in the event that the planetary orbits go haywire in the extremely distant future. Recorded October 20, 2010. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:06:51 -0700 hearts-of-darkness-black-holes-in-space Learn about the remarkable properties of black holes from Dr. Alex Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley), one of the finest explainers in the field of astronomy. Black holes are regions of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape! No longer confined to the imaginations of science-fiction writers and theoretical physicists, black holes have recently been discovered in large numbers by observational astronomers. Learn about the remarkable properties of these bizarre objects from Dr. Alex Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley), one of the finest explainers in the field of astronomy. Recorded May 19, 2010. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 11 May 2010 09:57:01 -0700 a-scientist-looks-at-doomsday-2012-and-the-rise Dr. David Morrison of the NASA Lunar Science Institute & SETI Institute discusses the public fears of 2012 and how they have been enflamed by the media. He sets our minds at ease, showing why there is no reason to worry more in 2012 than any other year. Many people have heard the rumors that the world will end in 2012 -- and that some astronomical event or alignment is to blame. Dr. David Morrison of the NASA Lunar Science Institute and SETI Institute discusses the public fears and how they have been enflamed by the media. He sets our minds at ease, showing why there is no reason to worry more in 2012 than any other year. Recorded April 21, 2010. no 1:26:50 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:44:40 -0700 the-many-mysteries-of-antimatter Dr. Helen Quinn of Stanford University discusses the history of our understanding of antimatter and how we use the little bit of antimatter around today to study some of the highest energy processes among the stars and galaxies. Antimatter is just like matter with all its properties reversed. Scientists think there may have been equal amount of matter and antimatter in the early universe, and yet today we have lots of matter and very little antimatter. How and when that imbalance developed is one of the great mysteries in understanding the underlying properties of the universe. Dr. Helen Quinn, Professor of Physics at the Stanford Linear Accelerator and co-author of a popular book on antimatter, discusses the history of our understanding of antimatter and how we use the little bit of antimatter around today to study some of the highest energy processes among the stars and galaxies. (This talk is a bit more technical than our usual lectures, but well worth exploring if you are interested in some of the most exciting frontiers of physics.) Recorded March 10, 2010. no 1:17:29 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:27:18 -0800 the-search-for-intelligent-life-among-the-stars-n Dr. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute discusses some novel ideas for how we might pursue the hunt for "cosmic company" and why it's possible that we might find evidence of sophisticated intelligence out there within only a few decades. A half-century ago, astronomers began trying to "eavesdrop" for radio messages from nearby star systems. However, today, SETI researchers continue to point their telescopes at individual stars, on the assumption that technically advanced societies will inhabit a watery world like our own. Dr. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute describes these searches, but then discusses some novel ideas for how we might pursue the hunt for "cosmic company" and why it's possible that we might find evidence of sophisticated intelligence out there within only a few decades. Seth Shostak is Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, in Mountain View, California and hosts the syndicated radio show called "Are We Alone?" Recorded January 20, 2010. no http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:08:19 -0800 life-at-the-edge-life-in-extreme-environments-on Astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild of the NASA Ames Research Center describes her quest for "life at the edge" and how such discoveries will shape our search for life in the Solar System and beyond. Astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild of the NASA Ames Research Center has gone from the Bolivian Andes to the Rift Valley of Kenya searching for the hardiest of organisms in the most extreme environments for life. By getting to know life forms on Earth that can occupy the most hostile niches, we can begin to understand the survival requirements for life in general. She describes her quest for "life at the edge" and how such discoveries will shape our search for life in the Solar System and beyond. Recorded November 11, 2009. no 1:30:04 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:39:11 -0800 hubble-breakthrough-the-first-photos-of-a-planet Paul Kalas was the leader of the team who managed the long-sought feat of actually taking a photograph of a planet orbiting another star. He describes how they achieved the breakthrough, using the Hubble Space Telescope. Paul Kalas was the leader of the team who managed the long-sought feat of actually taking a photograph of a planet orbiting another star. Before this, all the planets outside our solar system were found by indirect means. He describes how they achieved the breakthrough, using the Hubble Space Telescope, and discusses the wide range of planets out there that astronomers are discovering. Recorded October 7, 2009. no 1:07:40 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:10:27 -0700 the-dark-side-of-the-universe-dark-matter-and-dar About a quarter of the universe is made of "dark matter," which attracts things with its gravity, but is otherwise invisible. In this presentation, Dr. Patricia Burchat of Stanford University explores the evidence for the dark side of the cosmos. In the last decade or so, astronomers have been forced to accept two mysterious observations. About a quarter of the universe is made of "dark matter," which attracts things with its gravity, but is otherwise invisible. And roughly two-thirds of the universe is composed of "dark energy," which causes space itself to expand at an ever-increasing rate. That means only a small fraction of the universe is made of ordinary matter -- the stuff we understand! In this non-technical presentation, Dr. Patricia Burchat of Stanford University explores the evidence for the dark side of the cosmos, and the experiments that are being developed to investigate it further. Recorded May 20, 2009. no 1:24:21 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Wed, 27 May 2009 16:02:42 -0700 planetary-protection-and-hitchhikers-in-the-solar Dr. Margaret Race of the SETI Institute gives a behind-the-scenes view of "environmental management" planning for solar system missions. Scientists searching for life elsewhere have to worry about avoiding harmful cross contamination during the exploration of planets and their moons. We don't want to take Earth microbes to Mars or bring back alien microbes to Earth. In this timely talk, Dr. Margaret Race of the SETI Institute gives a behind-the-scenes view of "environmental management" planning for solar system missions, and explains the role of the Outer Space Treaty and other related national and international policies in planning our hunt for life-forms out there. Recorded April 22, 2009. no 1:28:21 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:08:50 -0700 the-dawn-of-creation-the-first-two-billion-years Dr. Stephen Beckwith of the University of California discusses some of the deepest images of the universe ever taken and shares recent discoveries about the early days of the cosmos. All the great islands of stars got their start in the first billion years after the beginning of time, the Big Bang. Every deep picture of the sky reveals thousands of these galaxies, each made up of billions of stars like the Sun. Modern instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope have made it possible to look back to a time when the universe looked very different that it does today. Dr. Stephen Beckwith of the University of California discusses some of the deepest images of the universe ever taken and shares recent discoveries about the early days of the cosmos. Recorded March 4, 2009. no 1:55:10 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:46:11 -0800 prospecting-for-water-on-the-moon-the-upcoming-lc Dr. Anthony Colaprete, the Principal Investigator for the LCROSS mission, fills us in on why scientists believe there is water in deep craters at the Moon's poles and how the LCROSS mission plans to look for it in the plumes. In 2009, NASA will purposely crash two spacecraft into one of the Moon's polar regions. The impacts should raise huge plumes of material, visible even to smaller telescopes on Earth. Dr. Anthony Colaprete (NASA Ames Research Center), the Principal Investigator for this intriguing mission, fills us in on why scientists believe there is water in deep craters at the Moon's poles and how the LCROSS mission plans to look for it in the plumes. Recorded January 21, 2009. no 1:13:36 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:50:50 -0800 saturns-restless-rings-latest-results-from-the-c Dr. Mark Showalter, a key member of the Cassini science team, shares some of the marvelous results from Saturn and recent discoveries from the mission. NASA's Cassini spacecraft has entered its fifth year exploring the planet Saturn, its rings, and its moons. Dr. Mark Showalter (SETI Institute), a key member of the Cassini science team, shares some of the marvelous results from Saturn and recent discoveries from the mission. His special focus is Saturn's complex and beautiful ring system (which shows a variety of surprising phenomena, including "jets", "propellers", "wisps", "spokes", and "braids") and the remarkable interactions between Saturn's rings and moons. Recorded November 12, 2008. no 1:30:29 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:10:04 -0800 the-black-hole-wars-my-battle-with-stephen-hawkin Dr. Leonard Susskind tells the story of the "Black Hole Wars" and explains the ideas that underlie the conflict. Black holes, the collapsed remnants of the largest stars, provide a remarkable laboratory where the frontier concepts of our understanding of nature are tested at their extreme limits. For more than two decades, Professor Leonard Susskind of Stanford University and a Dutch colleague have had a running battle with Stephen Hawking about the implications of black hole theory for our understanding of reality -- a battle that he has described in his well-reviewed book "The Black Hole Wars." In this talk Dr. Susskind tells the story of these wars and explains the ideas that underlie the conflict. What's at stake is nothing less than our understanding of space, time, matter and information! Recorded October 1, 2008. no 1:28:21 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:12:28 -0700 the-allen-telescope-array-the-newest-pitchfork-fo Dr. Jill Tarter of the SETI Institute is the leader of the main project looking for radio signals from alien civilizations. She updates us on the latest tools and plans in this quest. Dr. Jill Tarter of the SETI Institute is the leader of the main project looking for radio signals from alien civilizations (she was also the model for the character Jodie Foster played in the movie "Contact.") She updates us on the latest tools and plans in this quest, as digital technologies make possible huge improvements in our search systems. The Allen Telescope Array, being constructed in Northern California, will be the most powerful tool for finding SETI signals ever built. It is an innovative radio telescope assembled from a large number of small dishes, using consumer off-the-shelf technologies whenever possible to minimize costs. In the next decade, this new instrument will enable exploration that is 1000 to 10,000 times more sensitive than in the previous decades. This may just be enough! Recorded April 23, 2008. no 1:47:14 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:15:54 -0700 new-worlds-and-yellowstone-how-common-are-habitab Hear Dr. Geoff Marcy, the scientist who has discovered more planets than anyone else in the history of the world, discuss what kinds of planets we have found so far, and what a new generation of telescopes might find in the future. Astronomers have now discovered more than 250 planets orbiting other stars. Hear the scientist who has discovered more planets than anyone else in the history of the world discuss what kinds of planets we have found so far, and what a new generation of telescopes might find in the future. Could discoveries of planets that resemble the Earth spark a new era when we could someday begin communication with alien life? Dr. Geoff Marcy won the Shaw Prize (one of the highest honors in science) in 2005 and was Discover Magazine's Space Scientist of the Year. He and his co-workers pioneered the technique for finding planets around other stars without seeing light from the planet (by looking for wiggles in the motion of the star each planet orbits.) Recorded March 5, 2008. no 1:32:13 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:31:25 -0800 new-horizons-at-jupiter-and-some-saturn-news Dr. Jeff Moore, who was Leader of the Imaging Node for the New Horizons spacecraft encounter with Jupiter, shows the new photos of the Jupiter system and discusses some of the discoveries made by New Horizons. In February, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft swung by the giant planet Jupiter on its way to Pluto. Its instruments recorded winderful images and other data about Jupiter's wild weather, its ring, and its giant moons. Dr. Jeff Moore, who was Leader of the Imaging Node for the encounter, shows the new photos of the Jupiter system and discusses some of the discoveries made by New Horizons. He also talk about one of the most exciting discoveries of the Cassini mission around Saturn -- the new understanding and exploration of water geysers on the moon Enceladus. Recorded November 13, 2007. no 1:16:25 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:26:37 -0800 taking-a-hit-asteroid-impacts-and-evolution Dr. David Morrison, one of the world's experts on the study of asteroid impacts, discusses the past and the future of these catastrophic hits, and explains how, in the last two decades, we have learned (in principle) how to defend ourselves. Asteroids have hit the Earth many time in the past, and they will continue to hit in the future, whether we are prepared or not. Collisions with our planet over 4.5 billion years have profoundly influenced the evolution of life. (In fact, were it not for the impact of a 15-km wide asteroid 65 million years ago, it is likely humanity would not be here.) Dr. David Morrison, one of the world's experts on the study of asteroid impacts, discusses the past and the future of these catastrophic hits, and explains how, in the last two decades, we have learned (in principle) how to defend ourselves. Unlike other natural hazards, we now have the capability of removing most of the impact risk within the next generation. However, the government still does not have a plan of action for when an asteroid is discovered heading our way or when an impact happens without any warning. (We recommend you listen to this podcast holding hands with someone you love.) Recorded October 3, 2007. no 1:22:45 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:22:01 -0800 a-ringside-seat-to-the-formation-of-planets Dr. Dana Backman explains how new kinds of telescopes and observations are making it possible for us to detect the birth process of planets around nearby stars. Astronomers have discovered dusty "doughnuts" of cosmic raw material around many younger stars. In some cases, astronomers can see tantalizing hints in the rings that planets may be forming or may already have formed from this material. Dr. Dana Backman explains how new kinds of telescopes and observations are making it possible for us to detect the birth process of planets around nearby stars. He concludes by previewing future observations of these intriguing dusty rings with upcoming telescopes, particularly the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) Project in which NASA has outfitted a 747 plane with a telescope that can observe heat-rays from distant objects. Recorded May 23, 2007. no 1:26:29 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:25:04 -0700 comparing-worlds-climate-catastrophes-in-the-sola Dr. David Grinspoon takes us on an entertaining and enlightening journey through the history of our solar system, discovering runaway greenhouses and snowball planets. Take an entertaining and enlightening journey with astronomer and popular author Dr. David Grinspoon through the history of our solar system, discovering runaway greenhouses and snowball planets. Compare the evolution of Venus, Earth, and Mars over the years. And learn how studying the evolution of other planets can help us understand and predict climate change on Earth. Recorded April 11, 2007. no 1:37:42 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Fri, 19 May 2005 09:45:18 -0700 the-mars-exploration-rover-mission-a-year-of-expl Dr. Nathalie Cabrol gives an early progress report on the work of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and some of their discoveries about the planet Mars. Dr. Nathalie Cabrol is a planetary geologist who is a member of the Science Team for the Mars Exploration Rover mission. She specializes in exploring regions of Earth that resemble Mars (including Licancabur, the highest lake on our planet). She was instrumental in the selection of one of the landing sites for the Mars rovers and is busily analyzing images and data from the mission. In this 2005 lecture, she gave an early progress report on the work of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and some of their discoveries about the red planet. Recorded May 19, 2005. no 1:20:10 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Tue, 20 Apr 2005 13:06:49 -0700 estimating-the-chances-of-life-out-there Dr. Frank Drake provides a modern update on estimates for the existence of "E.T." In 1961, Dr. Frank Drake (SETI Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz) proposed an intriguing method of estimating the number of intelligent life-forms out there that we might communicate with, now called the Drake Equation. In this talk, Dr. Drake provides a modern update on estimates for the existence of "E.T." He draws on new ideas and new observations (including the discovery of surprising planets around other stars), which have helped astronomers refine both the targets where they search for life and the methods they use. Recorded April 20, 2005. no 1:14:05 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:12:15 -0700 a-scientist-in-spacesearching-for-earthlike-plan Dr. Janice Voss of NASA Ames Research Center, who has logged 49 days in space (traveling almost 19 million miles in 779 Earth orbits) discusses her work in space and what it's like flying on the Shuttle as a scientist. Dr. Janice Voss of NASA Ames Research Center, who has logged 49 days in space (traveling almost 19 million miles in 779 Earth orbits) discusses her work in space and what it's like flying on the Shuttle as a scientist. She then talks about NASA's upcoming Kepler mission, which will use a telescope in space to search for "transits" -- when a planet orbiting another star moves in front of its star and blocks its light. Although a planet might only block a tiny fraction of the light from a star, that decrease in brightness is enough to give a clear signal that the planet is there. With this mission, scientists hope to be able to find not only Jupiter and Saturn-sized planets, but also those as small as Earth. At the end, Dr. Voss answers a number of audience questions about both aspects of her work. Recorded March 7, 2007 no 1:16:31 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:50:56 -0800 glimpsing-the-edge-of-the-universe-results-from-t Dr. Bruce Margon describes the most important discoveries made with the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble Space Telescope has circled the Earth 15 times every day for more than 16 years. Dr. Bruce Margon (University of California, Santa Cruz), who was until recently the Associate Director for Science for the Hubble, describes the most important discoveries made with the telescope and how it can show us new details of the universe from the solar system to the most distant reaches of space. In addition, he briefly discusses the future of the Hubble and some interesting public reactions to it. Recorded January 24, 2007 no 1:44:58 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Mon, 04 Oct 2006 14:00:21 -0800 dark-energy-and-the-runaway-universe Dr. Alex Filippenko gives us a progress report on our "runaway universe". In 1998, observations of very distant exploding stars provided intriguing evidence that the expansion of the Universe is speeding up with time, rather than slowing down due to gravity as expected. Today, new and completely independent observations strongly support this amazing conclusion. Over the largest scales of space, our Universe seems to be dominated by a repulsive "dark energy," stretching the very fabric of space itself. Dr. Filippenko, who is a leader in the group that has made some of these remarkable observations, gives us a progress report on our "runaway universe" and then answers a host of audience questions about the overall behavior of the universe. Recorded October 4, 2006 no 1:49:23 http://astrosociety.org/education/silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/ Thu, 08 Nov 2006 13:45:10 -0800 the-planet-pluto-maligned-but-not-forgotten Dr. Dale Cruikshank reviews what we knew about Pluto. Dr. Dale Cruikshank reviews what we knew about Pluto (including its atmosphere, of which he was the co-discoverer), why Pluto was re-classified as a dwarf planet in the fall of 2006, and what the New Horizons spacecraft may reveal about this distant world in the next decade. no 1:28:59