Astronomy on Tap Leiden: The Universe through Radio Eyes

We are very excited for our next event, which will take place on Monday, September 28nd at Culture Café Leidse Lente at 20:00 CET!

This month, we turn our attention to radio astronomy. We usually picture the Universe in visible light, but some of its most energetic events glow in radio waves that our eyes can never see. Dharam Vir Lal will take us behind the scenes of the remarkable instruments that let us tune in, while Scott Visser will show us what those telescopes reveal, following the powerful jets launched by supermassive black holes at the hearts of galaxies.

As always, there will be fun games with which you can test your knowledge and try to win cool science prizes!

• Dharam Vir Lal: “Brew-ing an Eye: why, how, et cetera”

Dharam Vir Lal is an Associate Professor at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) in Pune, India, where he studies radio galaxies and the telescopes used to observe them. Dharam’s talk will take us behind the scenes of radio astronomy telling us why we build these powerful instruments, how they actually work, and some of the surprising things they reveal about our Universe.

• Scott Visser: “The life of a supermassive black hole seen through radio eyes”

Scott Visser is a PhD candidate at Leiden Observatory, where he studies the radio emission produced by supermassive black holes and what it reveals about their host galaxies. Scott’s talk will follow the powerful jets launched by feeding black holes, travelling at nearly the speed of light, to show how radio waves let us watch these giants grow and shape everything around them, from their host galaxy to the largest structures in the Universe.

Logistical information: We start at 20:00 sharp, so please arrive earlier to enter the venue, save a seat, and grab a drink at the bar. We will be uploading a recording of the talks on our YouTube channel after the event. Join us for an evening of astronomy and fun games where you can win cool science prizes! All ages and backgrounds are welcome!