WILMOT The Wilderness Center will host its annual Astronomy Day on April 4. This year’s topic will center on some of the strangest and most fascinating objects in the universe – black holes.
By definition a black hole is a region of space-time exhibiting gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing – not particles, not even light – can escape from it.
Albert Einstein predicted the existence of black holes in 1916 with his General Theory of Relativity. Astronomer John Wheeler coined the term "black hole" in 1967. But it wasn’t until 1971, after decades of being known only as theoretical objects, that the first black hole was found.
In September 2015, the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) Scientific Collaboration discovered gravitational waves from the merger of two massive black holes. Then in April 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration released the first-ever recorded image of a black hole. With this image a new area of research in black holes opened up. So far three types have been identified – stellar black holes, supermassive black holes and intermediate black holes.
Join us on Astronomy Day to learn more about black holes from our guest speakers. Dr. Patrick Durrell of Youngstown State University will present "Black Holes Both Big and Small." Durrell will highlight some of what we know about these strange objects, including stellar-mass black holes that come from stellar evolution and the much larger supermassive black holes that reside in the centers of most galaxies. He will also focus on how we find these different kinds of black holes.
Our featured speaker will be Dr. Keith Riles of the University of Michigan. Riles leads the Michigan Gravitational Wave Group and is a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration that made the September 2015 discovery of merging black holes. The Michigan Group is an integral part of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Using LIGO data, the Michigan group developed two algorithms now being used to search for gravitational waves emitted by isolated neutron stars and by binary neutron stars.
Since that first detection of gravitational waves from two merging black holes, many more black hole mergers have been detected; gravitational waves have also been detected from neutron stars, which are only one step away from black holes. Riles presentation on black holes will cover the groundbreaking discoveries made and the prospects for future detections, along with audio and visual demonstrations related to the detection of gravitational waves. Not only adults but also students from elementary age to high school and college will enjoy the presentation.
Astronomy Day will include displays and hands-on activities for the kids (parents might enjoy them, too). There will also be planetarium shows and, if clear weather, observing at the TWC Observatory.
Schedule of Events
Astronomy Day: Black Holes
Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m. to 8
Free for members, donation requested for non-members.
Black Holes Both Big and Small by Dr. Patrick Durrell, Youngstown State University – 2 p.m.
Black Holes by Dr. Keith Riles, University of Michigan – 4 p.m.
Planetarium Theater Shows
The Hot and Energetic Universe – 1 p.m., 3 & 8
High Energy Astrophysics plays a key role in understanding the universe. These radiations reveal the processes in the hot and violent universe. High Energy Astrophysics probes hot gas in clusters of galaxies and around supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies. It also provides important information about our galaxy, neutron stars, supernova remnants and stars like our Sun.
Tonight’s Sky Planetarium Show – 6:15 p.m.
Discover your way around the night sky. The instructor will follow from one constellation to another to help you learn: how to "navigate" among the stars; star names, interesting facts; and the planets in tonight’s sky.
Phantom of the Universe – 7 p.m.
Journey with protons racing through the world’s largest particle collider, view up close the Big Bang and emergent universe; descend nearly a mile deep to an underground experiment in South Dakota, all in the search of dark matter.
Black Hole Exhibits and Activities 1 p.m. to 7
Star Watch – 8:45 Weather permitting.
(A pizza dinner will be available at 5:30 for a donation.)
The Wilderness Center is located at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Wilmot. Call 330-359-5235 or go online at www.wildernesscenter.org