PHYS/ASTR Colloquium: "Skyglow, Satellites and Space Junk: Cultural Astronomy and the Transformation of our Night Sky" - Jessica Heim (PhD candidate, U. Southern Queensland)

This colloquium will be streamed online via Zoom, but there will be a viewing party in Thornton 411.

SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPT. OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY COLLOQUIUM SERIES

JESSICA HEIM

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023, 3:30-4:45 PM

“SKYGLOW, SATELLITES AND SPACE JUNK: CULTURAL ASTRONOMY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR NIGHT SKY”

For millennia, humans have observed the heavens: the night sky has been and continues to be important to people in cultures across the world. However, our skies are transforming before our eyes. Light pollution - wasted light going up into the sky - is washing out our view of the stars. Many people can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live, and light pollution is growing at an increasing rate. Meanwhile, the advent of satellite "megaconstellations" stands to irrevocably alter our view of the cosmos. This will impact professional astronomical research, living cultural traditions, and casual stargazers alike. This presentation will discuss the field of Cultural Astronomy as well as the impacts of these emerging changes to our night sky.