First Friday Astronomy: Weighing and measuring the universe with galaxy clusters

Friday, June 3, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Science and Education Building, Room 112

The Boise State Department of Physics presents “Weighing and measuring the universe with galaxy clusters” by Andres Salcedo of University of Arizona on Friday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Science and Education Building, Room 112. Salcdeo will present an historical overview of cosmology and cluster science, as well as discuss current outstanding questions in the field. The event is free and open to the public.

For those that cannot attend in person, the lecture will be live-streamed on Youtube at boi.st/AstroBroncosLive. Those attending the live-stream are welcome and encouraged to ask questions via chat.

Discounted parking for this event is available in the Brady Garage using coupon code 70224648 at any one of the parking payment machines located on the ground floor. Be sure to note your license plate number before leaving your vehicle. Here are instructions on how to use the coupon code.

After the lecture we will stargaze in Boise State’s observatory, weather permitting. An indoor planetarium may be set up in case stargazing is not an option.

More about this lecture: Current models of cosmology assume that our Universe is geometrically flat and expanding, governed by a theory of gravitation known as General Relativity, and made up of three main constituents: baryonic matter, dark matter, and dark energy. Dark matter accounts for roughly 85% of the matter in the Universe, while dark energy is believed to drive cosmic expansion. Galaxy clusters are embedded within the largest dark matter structures in the Universe and provide a way for cosmologists to study the properties of cosmological large-scale structure.

These events are funded by your generous donations. You can donate at boi.st/GiveToAstronomy.