Forwarded from Dan Burn at the U of U astro club: --- D.Burn@m.cc.utah.edu wrote:
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 10:57:47 -0700 From: D.Burn@m.cc.utah.edu Subject: (astro) Star Party, Gary Walker, Frontiers of Science To: astro@physics.utah.edu
Three items to report today:
First: Long Time UUAS Graduate Student Advisor and Friend Gary Walker has moved on. Gary worked hard in Gammy-Ray Astronomy and Observational Astronomy. He was the first T.A. for Physics 4060 Observational Astronomy where he taught me how to take digital astronomical pictures. He helped with several Wednesday and Special Star Parties such as the Project Youth Sun Spot Party and the Centerville Jr. High traveling Star Party. He has been a great mentor and friend. He has finished his requirements for a Doctorate in Physics and has taken a job working on an experiment called Milagro doing Gamma-Ray Astronomy in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Gary and his family are doing well and he is enjoying his training. We all wish Gary the best.
Second: I cannot yet tell if the weather will cooperate for tonights Star Party. It might be partly cloudy. If it is 50 % cloudy or worse then do not come. If it is less than 50% cloudy then Dave and I should be there to open the South Physics Observatory between 6 and 8 p.m.
Andromeda is high in the sky this time of year. Towards the end of January or early February, Saturn will be making its reappearance during our star party hours so stay tuned for that! Jupiter will not be back until maybe May or June. The Orion Nebula will be back in January!
Third: I apologize for giving no notice for the following lecture. Unfortunately I have been far behind in my Star Party emails. The next Frontiers of Science lecture is tonight at 7:30 in the Skaggs Biology Auditorium. The below information came straight off of the College of Science website http://www.science.utah.edu/ The second presentation will take place on Wednesday, December 1, 2004. This event will feature Kristen Hawkes, a distinguished professor of anthropology at the U. Her lecture title is "Grandmothers and the Evolution of Human Longevity."
Why do women live long past the age of child-bearing? Contrary to common wisdom, this phenomenon is not new, and is not due to support for the elderly, says Hawkes. Rather, grandmothers provide valuable support to their children and grandchildren, thus ensuring survivability of the species. Hawkes will discuss this "grandmother hypothesis," and present evidence to support the idea. She published a groundbreaking study in the journal Nature, March, 2004. See the study here. Hawkes is recognized by her peers as one of the top anthropologists in the nation. In April 2002 she received one of science's most prestigious honors when she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Then, in May 2002 she received the Rosenblatt Prize, the University of Utah's highest award for excellence in teaching, research and administrative efforts.
Gamma-Rayily,
Dan Burn Dave Pawlowksi Jason Sills www.utah.edu/astro
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