NSF’s Optical Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory launched on October 1, 2019. Rob Sparks talks about three press releases from the meeting that involved OIR Lab facilities.
Jan 11th: The Latest OIR Lab News From AAS
Rob Sparks Archive
Dec 14th: Comet Borisov Imaged By Gemini
Recently the Gemini Observatory imaged Comet Borisov. In this podcast, Dr. Meg Scwhamb discusses Comet Borisov and the recent imaging campaing
Nov 9th: NEID: A Precision Spectometer For Exoplanet Research
NEID will search for exoplanets by using the Doppler, or Radial Velocity (RV), effect. As a planet orbits its star, it exerts a tiny gravitational pull on the star, causing the star to “wobble.”
Oct 12th: The Launch of NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory
The National Science Foundation has merged all of its ground based astronomy facilities as of October 1, 2019. In this podcast, NSF’s OIR Lab Deputy Director Dr. Beth Willman discusses the launch of the new organization.
Sep 14th: New Instruments at the Gemini Observatory
In this podcast, Dr. Scott Kleinman discusses the new and upgraded instruments currently under development to keep Gemini Observatory at the forefront of astronomical research.
Aug 10th: SMASH and the Local Group Cluster Search
In this podcast, Dr. Knut Olson describes the SMASH survey & the citizen science project to analyze data from the SMASH Survey.
Jul 13th: The Eddington Experiment: Eclipse Day
On July 2nd, a total solar eclipse passed over Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. A team of students from the University of La Serena attemped to recreate the Eddington Experiment that provided the first experimental evidence for Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
Jun 8th: 100 Years Since the Eddington Experiment
Einstein published his general theory of relativity in 1915. Four years later, Arthur Eddington led and experiment to observe the deflection of starlight during a total solar eclipse providing critical evidence supporting Einstein’s Theory. Nearly 100 years later, a team of astronomers and students is attempting to recreate his experiment in Chile during a total solar eclipse on July 2nd.
May 11th: Encore: NEID: A Precision Spectometer For Exoplanet Research
Apr 13th: Photographing ISS Transits
Occasionally the ISS will pass directly in front of the Moon or Sun presenting an interesting photographic opportunity. In this podcast, Rob Sparks describes how he has successfully photographed the ISS transiting the Sun and Moon with a DSLR and a zoom lens and describes techniques you can use to capture this distinctive image.