The History of the Universe from Beginning to End
and Observing with the James Webb Space Telescope
Department of Physics
A presentation by:
Nobel Laureate, John C. Mather, Ph.D.
Senior Astrophysicist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Senior Project Scientist, James Webb Space Telescope
The history of the universe in a nutshell, from the
Big Bang to now, and on to the future – Mather will tell
the story of how we got here, how the universe began
with a Big Bang, how it could have produced an Earth
where sentient beings can live, and how those beings are
discovering their history. Mather was Project Scientist for
NASA’s Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite,
which measured the spectrum (the color) of the heat
radiation from the Big Bang, discovered hot and cold
spots in that radiation, and hunted for the first objects
that formed after the great explosion. He will explain Einstein’s biggest
mistake, how Edwin Hubble discovered the expansion of the universe, how
the COBE mission was built, and how the COBE data support the Big Bang
theory. He will also show NASA’s plans for the next great telescope in space,
the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which will look even farther back in
time than the Hubble Space Telescope, and will peer inside the dusty cocoons
where stars and planets are being born today. The JWST will be capable of
examining Earth-like planets around other stars using the transit technique
and may one day find signs of life.
Tuesday,
November 12, 2013
3:30 p.m.
AHC-3, Room 110
This event is free
and open to the public.
Refreshments will be provided.
Co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Integrated Science and Humanity
and the Stocker AstroScience Center.
Department of Physics
Modesto A. Maidique Campus | 11200 SW 8th St., CP 204
Miami, FL 33199 | 305-348-2605 | physics.fiu.edu
School of Integrated Science and Humanity
Stocker AstroScience Center Grand Opening Week
School of Integrated Science and Humanity
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 — GRAND OPENING DAY
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Stocker AstroScience Center Dedication Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting
Welcome by Dean Kenneth G. Furton, College of Arts & Sciences
Remarks by President Emeritus Modesto A. Maidique and Dr. Carl F. Stocker
11 a.m. to 12 noon
Stocker AstroScience Center Tours
12 noon to 3:15 p.m.
Solar Viewing, Stocker AstroScience Center
3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The History of the Universe from Begining to End and Observing with
the James Webb Space Telescope
Public Lecture by Nobel Laureate, John C. Mather, Ph.D., AHC-3, Room 110
8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Star Party, Stocker AstroScience Center, Observing Pad
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 ­— STUDENT DAY AT THE OBSERVATORY
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Solar Viewing with the Astronomy Club
Stocker AstroScience Center
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stocker AstroScience Center Tours with the Astronomy Club
and the Society of Physics Students
Stocker AstroScience Center
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Future of Life on Earth,
Lecture by James Webb, Stocker AstroScience Center, Main Room
8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Star Party hosted by the Society of Physics Students and the Astronomy Club
Stocker AstroScience Center, Observing Pad
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 — MUSIC AT THE OBSERVATORY
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Finger-style guitar with James Webb
Stocker AstroScience Center, Main Room
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Live Music Evening
Stocker AstroScience Center, Main Room
Featuring: James Webb, Tom Barnello, Marivanna, Ted Miller,
Grant Livingston, Jennings & Keller, and Rod McDonald
8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Observing with Guests
Stocker AstroScience Center, Observing Pad
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 — NASA DAY AT THE OBSERVATORY
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Reaching for the Stars Concert
Stocker AstroScience Center, Main Room
8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Across the Solar System and Beyond: NASA’s Current and Future
Human and Robotic Exploration Programs
Lecture by Russell Romanella, NASA Director of Safety and Mission Assurance,
Chemistry and Physics Building, CP-145
8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Public Observing with NASA Guests
Stocker AstroScience Center, Observing Pad