How are Stars Born?
The program will explore how hydrogen and helium gas, under the action
of gravity, form stars-not only 5 billion year ago, when our own sun and
solar system were formed, but right now throughout our galaxy. Some of the
latest theoretical calculations of star formation will be shared with the
audience. The most beautiful pictures ever taken of the sky are of star-forming
regions. The planetarium sky projector will be used to show you where some
of these exquisitely beautiful objects may be found. If the sky outside the
planetarium is clear, we will view the stars with a telescope after the
program. The sky is always clear inside the planetarium at Montgomery College.
The great Orion Nebula, Messier 42, NGC1976,
a star forming gas cloud visible to the naked eye if viewed from a very dark
place located in the middle of sword of Orion "the hunter".
The "How are Stars Born?" program will be partially understandable by
children and adults of all educational levels. This is real science, and
no one understands it all, including the speaker-but all will have the opportunity
to increase their understanding. The pictures of star-forming regions are
worth seeing for their beauty alone. Questions are encouraged during the
show. A double-your money-back guarantee is assured. Of course, as always,
the admission to these shows at the Montgomery College planetarium is free.
The planetarium shows 1,834 naked eye stars, the Milky Way (the diffuse
band of light caused by the disk of our own galaxy), and the five naked-eye
planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) under a twenty-four-foot
dome with forty-two comfortable chairs. The planetarium is located on Fenton
Street on the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College. It is attached
to the Science South building on the ground level and has a conspicuous
silver-colored domed roof.
The stars are the province of all of mankind. An astrophysicist will answer
questions about the universe.
A dark cloud called the horse head nebula, which
is a star forming region in the constellation of Orion near the leftmost
belt star, Alnitake.
- Star Formation Pillars in M16
also called the Eagel Nebulae, a very beautiful image.
- Star Formation in the infrared
from IPAC.
PowerPoint presentation
on "How are Stars Born?" given on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at 7PM in
the planetarium, obviously the planetarium part is not shown.
Montgomery
College's Planetarium home page
Web page by Dr. Harold Alden Williams.
Last changed 10:01PM, January 30, 2006.