St. Louis Astronomical Society Meeting: Cold, Dark Carbon at the Earliest Stages of Star Formation
Dr. Brett McGuire will be featured at the November meeting of the Saint Louis Astronomical Society. The meeting will be in McDonnell Hall, Room 162, Washington University in St. Louis, and via Zoom.
Hydrogen and carbon are two of the most abundant elements in the universe. Certain types of molecules combining hydrogen and carbon atoms are the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecules (PAH). PAH molecules have been detected in the interstellar medium, the very thin gas and dust mixture that lies between stars. Greater concentrations of dust and gas form immense clouds, from which new stars are born. Study of the locations, physics, and chemistry of PAH molecules are part of current research on star formation and early development. PAH molecules are detected using huge radio telescopes. Dr. McGuire will talk about observing PAH molecules and modeling their chemistry and that of the dust and gas in which they are found.
Dr. McGuire joined MIT in 2020 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. From 2014 to 2020, he was a Hubble Fellow at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics. His research uses the tools of physical chemistry, molecular spectroscopy, and observational astrophysics to understand how the chemical ingredients for life evolve with and help shape the formation of stars and planets.
The St. Louis Astronomical Society is an organization for individuals interested in astronomy and telescopes. The public is invited to attend its meetings, telescope observing sessions, and special events. For more information about Astronomical Society events, please visit www.slasonline.org or call 314-962-9231. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium at Washington University, is open to the public free of charge.
McDonnell Hall is on the south side of the Danforth Campus, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis 63130. The closest parking is street parking on Forsyth Boulevard or the East End Garage. Parking is free for entry after 5:00 pm in yellow or visitor parking spaces only. If you prefer to attend virtually, non-members of SLAS may request the Zoom link here: