Public AstroNight - "Searching for Cosmic Dawn"

Cynthia Chiang (McGill University (MSI))

Feb 21, 2019 7:00 PM
Location: McConnell Engineering Building, Room 204
Public Lecture

A public talk by Prof. Cynthia Chiang (McGill Space Institute).

Title: Searching for Cosmic Dawn

Abstract: The first stars in the universe were born a few hundred million years after the big bang. These stars were unlike any that exist today, and astronomers are working to build specialized telescopes that are capable of looking back to the earliest moments in our universe's history and giving us our first glimpse of "cosmic dawn." In order to observe the first stars, we tune our telescopes to measure radio waves at frequencies around 100 MHz. Because FM radio stations also broadcast at these frequencies, it is impossible to observe from most places on earth: our telescopes are essentially blinded. The search for cosmic dawn requires traveling to some of the most remote corners of the earth in order to access the quietest observing conditions. I will tell the story of one experiment, named PRIZM, that led our team to Marion Island: a small island halfway between South Africa and Antarctica that is home to penguins, albatrosses, seals, and now two small radio telescopes.

Free and open to everyone - no knowledge of Astronomy expected.




Upcoming Events

Reality Check: The Perils and Promise of Observations to Characterize Small Exoplanets

Johanna Teske (Carnegie Institute for Science)

Apr 2, 2024 3:30 PM
Seminar Event
Read More ⇒

APIERY Discussion

Apr 3, 2024 2:00 PM
Location: TSI Lounge
Other Event
Read More ⇒

Astro-ph discussion

Apr 3, 2024 3:30 PM
Other Event
Read More ⇒

TSI Eclipse Fair and Viewing Party

Apr 8, 2024 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: McGill Campus, Lower Field
Public Outreach
Read More ⇒

TSI Seminar

Vikram Ravi (Caltech)

Apr 9, 2024 3:30 PM
Seminar Event
Read More ⇒

APIERY Discussion

Apr 10, 2024 2:00 PM
Location: TSI Lounge
Other Event
Read More ⇒

Astro-ph discussion

Apr 10, 2024 3:30 PM
Other Event
Read More ⇒

TSI Seminar

Christine Chen (Space Telescope Science Institute)

Apr 16, 2024 3:30 PM
Seminar Event
Read More ⇒

APIERY Discussion

Apr 17, 2024 2:00 PM
Location: TSI Lounge
Other Event
Read More ⇒

Astro-ph discussion

Apr 17, 2024 3:30 PM
Other Event
Read More ⇒

TSI Seminar

Miles Cranmer (Cambridge and Simons Foundation)

Apr 23, 2024 3:30 PM
Seminar Event
Read More ⇒

APIERY Discussion

Apr 24, 2024 2:00 PM
Location: TSI Lounge
Other Event
Read More ⇒

Astro-ph discussion

Apr 24, 2024 3:30 PM
Other Event
Read More ⇒

TSI Seminar

Sunshine Menezes (Executive Director at Metcalf Institute)

Apr 30, 2024 3:30 PM
Seminar Event
Read More ⇒

Public Observing Night

Apr 30, 2024 7:30 PM
Outreach Event
Read More ⇒

APIERY Discussion

May 1, 2024 2:00 PM
Location: TSI Lounge
Other Event
Read More ⇒

Astro-ph discussion

May 1, 2024 3:30 PM
Other Event
Read More ⇒

TSI Public Talk

May 1, 2024 7:00 PM
Outreach Event
Read More ⇒

24hrs of Science - From Planets to Particles: An Exploration Mini-Fair

May 4, 2024 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Rutherford Physics Building
Outreach Event
Read More ⇒

24 Hours of Science

May 4, 2024 11:00 AM
Outreach Event
Read More ⇒