Stellar Evolution - a presentation by Dr Elizabeth Cunningham

This event will be given online (over Zoom) only. A link will be sent out to Vectis Astronomical Society (VAS) members. Non-members are also welcome to join using the Eventbrite link to book (a donation is requested to cover VAS's expenses)

(WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE EVENTBRITE LINK or contact [email protected])

About the Talk: Stellar Evolution - the life cycle of a star and its implications for life in our Solar System.

At the heart of our Solar System lies the Sun, an average yellow star that for billions of years has provided the energy necessary for life to evolve on Earth. For us to understand the life of our Sun we must look out into the Universe and study other stars to observe how they are born, how they live and how they die. Using breath-taking images taken by space telescopes like Hubble, we will illustrate stellar evolution, explain the fate of our Sun and its implications for life in our Solar System.

About the Speaker: Dr Elizabeth Cunningham is a nuclear physicist working at the University of Surrey for the Science and Technology Facilities Council. In a varied career studying astronomy, astrophysics and nuclear physics she has examined the exotic nuclear matter created in stars at Canada’s National Nuclear Physics Laboratory, completed her doctorate in theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics at the University of Surrey and worked as a Planetarium Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. She has also carried out research into the atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon Titan at Imperial College London. She currently enjoys the privilege of serving as the Vice-President for Membership at the Institute of Physics.

About VAS: The Vectis Astronomical Society (http://www.wightstronomy.org) meets on the 4th Friday of every month, except for December. This event is open for non-members to attend. The speakers come from all over the country and give a presentation for around 45 minutes, with a chance for questions and answers afterwards.

[Picture credit for the cover photo used above: The Crab Nebula by NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University) - HubbleSite: gallery, release., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=516106]