Cal Day 2016
Sat, April 16, 2016
What Wonderful Worlds: Exploring our Solar System
Our knowledge about our solar system has increased by leaps and bounds over the past few decades due to a combination of spacecraft missions and technical advancements on ground-based telescopes. Come hear more!
11:00 am – 12:15 pm, 2 Leconte – Imke de Pater
Happy Centennial, General Relativity! Black Holes, Gravitational Waves and Other Cosmic Wonders
We are currently celebrating the 100th birthday of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which dictates that the presence of mass warps both space and time. Within its realm are black holes, the accelerating expansion of the universe, gravitational lensing, and gravitational waves whose detection recently made headline news. Come learn about these amazing topics!
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, 155 Dwinelle – Alex Filippenko
Breakthrough Listen: Searching for Intelligent Life Beyond Earth
Help astronomers build a scale model of the Solar System, read the “fingerprints” of stars, learn how astronomers measure distances to the stars, and more.
10:00 am – 3:30 pm, 339 Campbell Hall
Exploring Radio Astronomy
Come explore Berkeley’s own radio astronomy lab! Learn about cutting-edge experiments, such as radio telescope HERA, that are looking deep into cosmic history to discover how the universe
10:00 am – 3:30 pm, 425 Campbell Hall
Astro Demonstrations & Hands-On Activities
Help astronomers build a scale model of the Solar System, read the “fingerprints” of stars, learn how astronomers measure distances to the stars, and more.
10:00 am – 3:30 pm, 121 Campbell Hall
Portable Planetarium Shows
Who says you can’t see stars in the Bay Area?!?! Learn about the astronomical objects, mythology, and history behind the constellations visible in the spring. Continuous 15-minute shows.
10:00 am – 3:30 pm , 131 Campbell Hall – Hosted by Astro Grad Students
Guided Solar Viewings
Safely observe the sun through a telescope and other special instruments (weather permitting)! See sunspots and solar flares, and check out our sundial. Get your Science@Cal Passport stamped here.
10:00 am – 3:30 pm , Hearst Mining Circle – Hosted by Astro Grad Students
Astronomy Undergrad Lab Tour
Tour the lab where astronomy students spend all their time.
10:00 am – 3:30 pm, 541 Campbell Hall – Hosted by Carl Heiles, James Graham, and Students