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, 2012 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 12:11PM, January 31, 2012.