Event
2023 Paint Branch Distinguished Lecture in Applied Physics
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
4:00 p.m.
A. James Clark Forum (AJC 1101)
Meredith Pettit
301 405 4951
mpettit1@umd.edu
Speaker: Dr. John Mather (NASA)
Title: Opening the Infrared Treasure Chest with JWST
Abstract: The James Webb Space Telescope was launched on December 25, 2021, with commissioning complete in early July 2022. With its 6.5-meter golden eye, cameras and spectrometers, the Webb Telescope is already producing magnificent images of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, star-forming regions and planets.
Scientists are beginning to observe the growth of galaxies, the formation of stars and planetary systems, individual exoplanets through coronagraphy and transit spectroscopy, and all objects in the Solar System from Mars and beyond. In this year's Paint Branch Lecture, John Mather will explain how he and his team built the Webb Telescope and the discoveries they hope to make with its data. The Webb Telescope is a joint project of NASA with the European and Canadian space agencies.
Please Join IREAP for coffee and refreshements before the talk (3:30PM in AJC 1101).