AAS Informational Email 2006-18

Kevin Marvel, Executive Officer

Subject: Special Chilean Astronomy Lecture in DC November Wed., Nov. 15, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Summary: The AAS, in partnership with the Chilean Embassy, helped plan a lecture sponsored by the Smithsonian Associates Program, which will take place on November 15 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.  AAS members can attend at a discounted rate.

Details:

The AAS is forwarding the following information to AAS members in the DC region as a service to the Chilean Embassy.

Please note that tickets for this event must be purchased through the Smithsonian Associates website or the phone number provided below (this is how AAS members can get a discount).

The AAS does not receive any financial benefit from this program.  

The Chilean Embassy, a long-time partner with the AAS for events that highlight the importance of Astronomy in Chile, has extended a discounted rate to AAS members.

The Announcement from the Chilean Embassy Follows:

The Chilean skies are the clearest in the Southern Hemisphere, which has led the world’s great astronomical laboratories to construct giant observatories here. Astrophysicist Maria Teresa Ruiz uses stunning images to travel along the Route of the Stars in Chile.

Ruiz begins by exploring how our Universe looks and has evolved and the important questions that remain unanswered. She continues by discussing Chile as a premier viewing site, looking at astronomical marvels such as Orion’s Belt, the Southern Cross, and the Clouds of Magellan.

She then notes recent landmark discoveries in astronomy and links them to the newly built high-powered telescopes that made these possible, including Gemini’s observations of failed stars and super planets; the Cosmic Background Imager detection of radiation waves from 14 billion years ago, adding credence to the Big Bang theory; and the Very Large Telescope, producing some of the first infrared images of extrasolar planets.

The evening concludes with an opportunity to sample Alma de Chile wines from Vina San Esteban Winery, Los Andes, accompanied by Chilean cheese.

Ruiz is a professor of astronomy at the University of Chile and chair of the Stellar Panel of the European Southern Observatory.

LOCATION
S. D. Ripley Center
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Washington, DC
Metro: Smithsonian
Orange and Blue Lines

**Call 202-357-3030 and mention the Embassy of Chile to receive a member rate**

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Mailed to AAS members from aas.org 6 November 2006 To unsubscribe or change address contact mailto:address@aas.org