Pictures of space inspire awe and curiosity, connecting us to the wider Universe around us. Dr. Allison Strom, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University, will show how raw telescope data is transformed into stunning images and discuss the techniques used by astronomers to capture and process data from various telescopes, both on Earth and in space.
Key questions include: How do these images get from the stars to our screens? Are the colors we see real? What do these pictures tell us about the cosmos? By understanding the science and art behind these images, we gain a deeper appreciation for the Universe's beauty and complexity.
Allison Strom is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University and a core faculty member of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA). She received a PhD in astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology in 2017, an MPhil in astronomy from the University of Cambridge in 2011, and a BS in physics and astronomy from the University of Arizona in 2010. The principal goal of her research is to understand the origin of mature galaxies like our own Milky Way, which is a longstanding open question in astronomy. Prof. Strom uses some of the largest telescopes on the ground and in space to answer this question by studying "teenaged" galaxies that were forming in the early universe.
North Central Michigan College • 1515 Howard Street, Petoskey, MI 49770
