In 1992 the Department officially inaugurated a group called "Friends of Astronomy" composed mostly of Cornell alumni and friends. This has been a very happy experience with significant interaction between the department and our friends in the wider world.
Anyone with an interest in all things astronomical here at Cornell is welcome to join the Friends of Astronomy group. If interested in finding out more about the group, write to friendsofastronomy@cornell.edu.
We are excited to announce our fall series of events for the Cornell Friends of Astronomy, including 3 Zoom events and an in-person informal luncheon coincident with a Carl Sagan Institute program in celebration of the Carl Sagan’s 90th Birthday.
SAVE THE DATES:
Wed, Oct 16th at 8pm EDT via Zoom
Assistant Professor Nils Deppe
During this event, Assistant Professor Nils Deppe will take us on a journey of "Black Holes, Spaghettification, and Time Travel". Gravity on Earth is quite boring: it makes apples fall. However, near a black hole things get really strange. Time slows down and everything becomes spaghetti. Can we abuse gravity to achieve time travel or to visit distant galaxies? What is preventing us from turning science fiction into science fact? Come learn from Nils about the wild and whacky side of gravity and how black holes are too weird even for Hollywood sci-fi movies like "Interstellar".
Sat, Nov 9th at 11:30am EST in person
Informal Friends of Astronomy Luncheon with an update from Professor David Chernoff, Chair of the Astronomy Department
To be followed by a program sponsored by the Carl Sagan Institute Information and registration to be announced later.
Wed, Dec 11 at 8pm EST via Zoom
Professor Gordon Stacey
"Update on the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST)"
More information will be coming as the later dates approach.
We hope you will join us!