Join us in Pupin Hall 301 on Friday, February 9, at 6pm for a full night of astronomy! Columbia Astronomy Professor David Helfand will be telling us about "The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom" (based on his new book of the same name!):
"By utilizing the basic building blocks of matter as imperturbable little clocks, we are now able to reconstruct in quantitative detail a remarkable range of human and natural events. From detecting art forgeries to dating archeological sites, and from laying out a detailed history of human diet and the Earth's climate to revealing the events surrounding the origin of life, of the Solar System and of the Universe itself, atoms provide us with a precise chronology from the beginning of time to the moment humans emerge to contemplate such questions."
We'll start the evening at 6pm with some astronomy trivia, followed by Prof. Helfand's talk and Q&A. From 7:10-8:10pm, we will be outside stargazing on College Walk (weather permitting).
The main event will take place in Pupin Hall 301. Signs will be posted to direct you to the lecture hall, and general directions to Columbia and Pupin Hall can be found here. Outdoor observing/stargazing will take place on College Walk, the portion of 116th street crossing through Columbia's main campus; we will walk down to College Walk as a group following the lecture and Q&A. Telescopes and binoculars will be provided by Columbia Astronomy (but you are absolutely welcome to bring your own observing equipment).
This event is free and open to all -- stay only as long as you want.
We look forward to seeing you in Pupin Hall on February 9!
