BICEP2 Press Conference - March 17, 2014 CfAPress 2014-03-18 | At a press conference on March 17, 2014, the BICEP2 Collaboration presented measurements of B-mode polarization of the cosmic microwave background. These measurements represent the first direct evidence of cosmic inflation and the first direct image of primordial gravitational waves. Press conference participants were the leader of BICEP2, John M. Kovac (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), Chao-Lin Kuo (Stanford/SLAC), Jamie Bock (Caltech/JPL), Clem Pryke (University of Minnesota), and Marc Kamionkowski (Johns Hopkins University).Press release: http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2014-05Collaboration website: http://www.bicepkeck.org
Announcing our new YouTube channels CfAPress 2014-04-16 | We will no longer be updating this channel. We invite you to subscribe to one of our new, dedicated YouTube channels. Please visit the "About" section for links to those channels.
The Scientific Story of Genesis with Avi Loeb CfAPress 2014-03-03 | Observatory Night, February 20, 2014 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. In 1964, Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias detected faint whispers of the Big Bang known as the cosmic microwave background. Their find garnered a Nobel Prize in 1978.Join us on Thursday to hear Wilson describe how they made their discovery. He will be joined by three other expert panelists: Alan Guth, who will discuss the Big Bang and cosmic inflation; Robert Kirshner, who will address dark energy and the accelerating universe; and Avi Loeb, who will transport us to the end of everything.
Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe with Robert Kirshner CfAPress 2014-03-02 | Observatory Night, February 20, 2014 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. In 1964, Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias detected faint whispers of the Big Bang known as the cosmic microwave background. Their find garnered a Nobel Prize in 1978.Join us on Thursday to hear Wilson describe how they made their discovery. He will be joined by three other expert panelists: Alan Guth, who will discuss the Big Bang and cosmic inflation; Robert Kirshner, who will address dark energy and the accelerating universe; and Avi Loeb, who will transport us to the end of everything.
Discovering the Cosmic Microwave Background with Robert Wilson CfAPress 2014-02-28 | Observatory Night, February 20, 2014 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. In 1964, Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias detected faint whispers of the Big Bang known as the cosmic microwave background. Their find garnered a Nobel Prize in 1978.Join us on Thursday to hear Wilson describe how they made their discovery. He will be joined by three other expert panelists: Alan Guth, who will discuss the Big Bang and cosmic inflation; Robert Kirshner, who will address dark energy and the accelerating universe; and Avi Loeb, who will transport us to the end of everything.
Inflation: A New Universe is Born with Alan Guth CfAPress 2014-02-28 | Observatory Night, February 20, 2014 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. n 1964, Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias detected faint whispers of the Big Bang known as the cosmic microwave background. Their find garnered a Nobel Prize in 1978.Join us on Thursday to hear Wilson describe how they made their discovery. He will be joined by three other expert panelists: Alan Guth, who will discuss the Big Bang and cosmic inflation; Robert Kirshner, who will address dark energy and the accelerating universe; and Avi Loeb, who will transport us to the end of everything.
50 Years After the Discovery of the Big Bang! CfAPress 2014-02-21 | With Alan Guth, Robert Wilson, Robert Kirshner, Avi Loeb
What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz CfAPress 2014-02-06 | We are searching the universe for any kind of life we can find. It's likely that the first signs of alien life we detect will be from plants. Here on Earth, plants provide the oxygen that we breathe, so if we find an oxygen-rich atmosphere on a distant world, that oxygen will come from alien plants.But what do we really know about plants? Recent research has raised some provocative questions. For example, can plants smell? Can they hear? Do plants know where they are? Do plants remember? Scientist and author Daniel Chamovitz considers these questions in his recent book, "What a Plant Knows." Observatory Night Talk from February 4, 2014 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Cosmic Orphans with Trent Dupuy CfAPress 2014-01-24 | Dr. Trent Dupuy tells us all about the cosmic orphans known as brown dwarfs. These mysterious objects are not quite stars and not quite planets. They also experience some of the wildest weather in the galaxy!Observatory Night Talk from January 16, 2014 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Public Night CfAPress 2014-01-17 | Cosmic Orphans - Trent Dupuy
Choosing Your First Telescope with J. Kelly Beatty CfAPress 2013-12-27 | J. Kelly Beatty from Sky and Telescope Magazine offers a guide to choosing your first telescope. Observatory Night from December 19, 2013 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Alien Worlds with David A. Aguilar CfAPress 2013-12-20 | CfA Public Affairs director and author/illustrator David A. Aguilar will discuss his two new National Geographic kid's book, "ALIEN WORLDS" and "Space Encyclopedia." In "ALIEN WORLDS" he applies real-world astronomy, biology, geology, chemistry, botany and meteorology to known exoplanets and speculates what sort of exotic life forms might evolve there. The results will amaze kids and adults alike!Observatory Night from December 19, 2013
Comet ISON Update with David A. Aguilar CfAPress 2013-11-26 | Update on Comet ISON and the latest astronomy news from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics with the Director of Public Affairs, David A. Aguilar.Observatory Night Introduction from November 21, 2013 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
The Quest for Earth-Like Planets with Courtney Dressing CfAPress 2013-11-25 | Red-dwarf stars are the most common stars in the universe. Researcher Courtney Dressing will present findings that these most-numerous of stars also harbor plenty of planets. Thus, Earth-like planets are more prevalent than we thought and should be located right next door!Observatory Night Talk from November 21, 2013 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
After Kepler with Dimitar Sasselov, Søren Meibom, and David Latham CfAPress 2013-10-23 | The Kepler spacecraft was launched in 2009 to find the first Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars. Tonight, we present a summary of the spacecraft's mission and highlights of its surprising discoveries. The three expert speakers are astronomers Dimitar Sasselov, David Latham, and Søren Meibom. Observatory Night Talk from October 17, 2013 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Stargazing with your Smart Phone and Tablet with Stuart Goldman CfAPress 2013-10-22 | A 14-minute demonstration of the various apps available on iOS and Google Play for stargazing. You can use these apps to aid you when outside, or from inside on a cloudy night. Explore the night sky from your smart phone! Date: 10-17-2013
Astrophotography with Small Telescopes with James Chamberlain CfAPress 2013-10-17 | An 18-minute demonstration of the power of small telescopes from urban settings to photograph the night sky. The beauty of the Milky Way revealed! Date: 9-19-2013
10 Great Discoveries with David J. Eicher CfAPress 2013-10-17 | In 1973 the first issue of Astronomy magazine appeared on newsstands. Its goal: to be the most beautiful astronomy magazine in the world. In this video, Editor-in-Chief David Eicher reveals astronomy's 10 greatest discoveries, and discusses his upcoming book on comets. Observatory Night talk from Sept. 19, 2013 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Black Hole Chaos with Belinda Wilkes & Francesca Civano CfAPress 2013-05-17 | Observatory Night talk from May 16, 2013 at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Dark Cloud Encounters with Katherine Wyman CfAPress 2013-05-14 | Observatory Night lecture from March 21, 2013.
Gas Giant Mysteries with Rebekah Dawson CfAPress 2013-05-14 | Observatory Night talk from Feb. 21, 2013.
Arepo simulation of galaxy formation CfAPress 2012-08-15 | This computer animation, created using new software called Arepo, simulates 9 billion years of cosmic history. Arepo can accurately follow the birth and evolution of thousands of galaxies over billions of years. Arepo generates the full variety of galaxies seen locally, including majestic spirals like the Milky Way and Andromeda.Credit: CfA/UCSD/HITS/M. Vogelsberger (CfA) & V. Springel (HITS)
Exoplanet Aurora CfAPress 2011-07-22 | In this animation, stunning aurorae ripple around a "hot Jupiter." When a stellar eruption known as a coronal mass ejection hit the planet, it triggered these aurorae, which are the planetary equivalent of Earth's Northern and Southern Lights. However, this exoplanet's aurorae shine up to a thousand times brighter than Earth's, and extend from the equator to the poles. Animation created by Hyperspective Studios.Credit: CfA
Binary White Dwarf Merger CfAPress 2010-11-16 | A binary white dwarf system that will merge in about 100 million years. The two white dwarfs won't have enough combined mass to go supernova, so the merger will result in a single, more massive white dwarf. For more information, see http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2010/pr201024.html
Pandora Zoom-in CfAPress 2010-02-16 | This artist's conception shows a hypothetical gas giant planet with an Earth-like moon similar to the moon Pandora in the movie Avatar. New research shows that, if we find such an "exomoon" in the habitable zone of a nearby star, the James Webb Space Telescope will be able to study its atmosphere and detect key gases like carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water. Artwork and animation by David A. Aguilar (CfA).
Lighthouse of the Skies CfAPress 2010-02-16 | "Lighthouse of the Skies" - an 8-minute summary of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, created in 2006 with funding from the Smithsonian Women's Committee. Learn about CfA's history, current research, and where we are going in the future. For more information, visit our website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/
