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Venus and Mars pictured.

Behrend astronomy program to focus on Mars and Venus

4/16/18

The key differences between Mars and Venus will be part of Darren Williams’ topic of discussion on April 19, when Open House Night in Astronomy returns to Penn State Behrend. Williams, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the college, will explain what is known about each world and what remains uncertain.

Crater pictured.

Behrend astronomy program to focus on meteorites and craters

1/22/18

Scott McKenzie, an assistant professor of geology and paleontology director at Mercyhurst University, will discuss both local craters and meteorites on Thursday, Feb. 1, when Open House Nights in Astronomy returns to Penn State Behrend.

Total Solar Eclipse pictured.

Total solar eclipse to be discussed at Penn State Behrend

4/6/17

The last time a total solar eclipse was visible from the contiguous United States, Jimmy Carter was president. Sony had just introduced a new portable music player: the Walkman. So this summer’s Great North-American Eclipse will be a major astronomical event.

In 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) first detected gravitational waves (pictured).

Astronomy talk will trace gravitational waves from crashing black holes

9/21/16

In 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected what Albert Einstein had predicted nearly 100 years earlier: gravitational waves.

This groundbreaking discovery opened the door to a new way of observing the universe and will be the topic of discussion when Open House Nights in Astronomy returns to Penn State Behrend on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Virgo Cluster

Virgo Cluster of galaxies to be discussed at Penn State Behrend

4/13/16

The Virgo Cluster’s close proximity to Earth makes it one of the most useful sources for understanding how galaxies form and evolve. That will be the topic of discussion when Open House Night in Astronomy returns to Penn State Behrend April 21.