ONLINE: Astronomy Talk: Black Hole Monsters at the Centers of Galaxies

*************************** This is an online event *******************************

We don't have the regular access to the clubhouse yet. But the night sky is still there, and there's still lots to learn. So we'll do this online.

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Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/

Come join us for our monthly Astronomy talk!

Topic: Black Hole Monsters at the Centers of Galaxies
Speaker: Prof. Alan P. Marscher

Abstract:
Ironically, black holes create the most luminous objects in the universe. The speaker studies super-massive black holes at the centers of galaxies, and is a member of a team that has imaged the “black hole shadows” in the center of the galaxy M87 and in our Galaxy. He will discuss how gas falling onto black holes and jets of high-energy particles powered by the black hole’s spin cause the centers of galaxies to shine brightly across the entire spectrum from radio to visible to X-ray and gamma-ray wavelengths.

Bio:
Dr. Alan Marscher is a professor of astronomy at Boston University. He has published about 300 articles in scientific journals on the topic of quasars and other types of active galactic nuclei. His group uses data from a number of NASA satellite observatories and ground-based telescopes to follow variations in brightness and changes in images of jets of high-energy particles and magnetic fields at the centers of some galaxies.