Society Meeting for June Goes With a Bang

Prof. Sam Falle.  Image credit: Leeds University

Prof. Sam Falle. Image credit: Leeds University

The June meeting of the society saw a talk on supernovae by guest speaker Prof. Sam Falle, Professor of Fluid Dynamics at the School of Mathematics at Leeds University.

Society treasurer Mell Jeffery  FRAS writes:

Cassiopeia_WISE

Image taken by NASAs WISE telescope. SN 1572 is the red circular nebulae in the upper left. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA

“Prof. Sam Falle started the evening by talking about historic supernovae and who observed and recorded them. Chinese astronomers made the first records of such events up until the Middle Ages when European records start, Tycho Brahe made the first European records (Tycho’s Supernova – SN 1572).

Observations prior to this had probably been made in Europe, but was cast aside due to religion as anything within the heavens was pure and only on Earth could things be subject to change and degrade!

He then went on to discuss the differing types (type I & II) and the differences between them, what changes occur for a star to go supernova, what happens during the event and afterwards – young, middle aged and old supernovae. References to the speed of the explosions were made in relation to ‘bombs’ of various types and their similarities!

It was a very interesting talk.”

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