SCIENCE SEMINAR
Distances in Astronomy: The Three-Dimensional Mapping of the Universe
Caroline Foster
Bishop's University
Friday, March 23, 2007
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Hamilton Room 302
A classical problem in Astronomy is the measurement of distances. Because celestial objects are too far to be measured directly with ordinary methods of stellar astronomy, astronomers have had to come up with other methods of determining distances in order to create three-dimensional maps of our Universe. In this talk I will discuss parallax, primary distance indicators such as Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae. I will also discuss redshift and its importance for the three-dimensional mapping of the Universe.
THIS TALK IS INTENDED FOR CEGEP AND PHYSICS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
