Astronomy on Tap Atlanta: Interstellar Travel in Science Fiction – Real Science or Magical Fantasy?

**Speaker:**Dr. Sébastien Lépine, Astrophysicist and GSU Professor

Abstract: The idea of using spaceships to travel between star systems is such a common trope in popular culture that most of us take it for granted that humans will inevitably travel the galaxy sometime in the distant future. But is the promise of space travel grounded in any scientific ideas? Or is it all just a hopelessly optimistic magical dream? Using cold hard facts from how we know the Universe actually works – from relativity to quantum physics, and some may surprise you – I will review how space travel is represented in modern science fiction books and movies (including some big fan favorites), and separate the “somewhat realistic” from the “downright impossible”, with everything in-between. I will offer my honest opinion as an astrophysicist on what might be our best hopes to get humans to set foot on distant worlds.