Observations of the total solar eclipse of 1919 famously confirmed Einstein’s prediction that light, like all matter, travels on “straight lines” in curved spacetime. We will first delve into the fascinating story of the prediction and observational confirmation of how light travels in the curved spacetime near massive bodies like our sun. We will then see how, from 1919 to the present, our understanding of this behavior of light (gravitational lensing) has become an invaluable tool in probing the nature of dark matter, and even the environs of supermassive black holes.

Event Date: 3 / 21 / 2024

Space Debris is and will continue to be a wicked problem. We need to put some fresh thinking against it. Joe Guzman explores new models that explain how Active Debris Remediation might work, who will pay for it, and why it makes sense.

Event Date: 2 / 22 / 2024

On April 8 this year, the US will experience a rare and impressive total solar eclipse. The path of total darkness will cut across the heart of the nation from Texas through Maine and afford millions a rare glimpse of the fiery atmosphere of the Sun. We’ll have to wait another 21 years for a comparable eclipse to cover such a large swath of our country. This talk will discuss some of the phenomena to look for during the eclipse and will investigate the various cycles of solar and lunar eclipses that tie us inexorably to both our distant past and our far future.

Event Date: 1 / 25 / 2024