NRF|SAAO Cape Town Open Night
May 10 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The NRF|SAAO Open Nights in Cape Town take place on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.
All Open Nights will start with a presentation on topics of astronomy or related science fields. Visitors will then be given an introduction to the history of the Observatory, library, museum, and the 120 year-old McClean telescope. If the weather permits, stargazing will take place with McClean and smaller telescopes.
Please note that guests are only allowed entry into our premises from 7:30pm.
Free entry for kids aged 6 & under.
Please email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
Speaker: Dr. Jaikhomba Singha
Dr. Jaikhomba Singha is a postdoctoral fellow in the High Energy Physics, Cosmology & Astrophysics Theory (HEPCAT) Group, University of Cape Town. His interests lie in understanding various astrophysical phenomena with the help of pulsars. He is actively involved in Pulsar Timing Array collaborations and has contributed to the recent evidence of nanohertz gravitational waves in various datasets.
Abstract:
Imagine a star so dense that a teaspoon of its material would outweigh Table Mountain, and spinning hundreds of times per second, emitting a beam of radiation like lighthouses. While it’s hard to imagine, such exotic objects do exist and they are known as pulsars. These super exciting objects, born as a result of explosions of massive stars are more than just astronomical curiosities. They act as ultra-precise cosmic clocks, helping us test the limits of Einstein’s theory of relativity, detect gravitational waves and understand the interstellar medium properties. In this talk, we’ll listen to the inspiring story of the discovery of pulsars and try to understand how these cosmic marvels have become tools for understanding the deepest laws of physics, with the help of some of the greatest instruments made by mankind.