From a PARI press release:
Black holes and wormholes presentation scheduled at PARI
Rosman, NC (December 22, 2011) – The public is invited to a discussion of black holes and wormholes Friday, January 9 at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI). The evening’s activities will include a tour of the PARI campus and celestial observations using PARI’s optical or radio telescopes.
The program is part of PARI’s monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature a presentation by Dr. Pam Khurana. “A black hole is a great amount of matter packed into a very small space,” said Dr. Khurana. “Think of a star ten times more massive than the Sun squeezed into a sphere about the diameter of New York City. The black hole is so dense light cannot escape so, while they cannot actually be seen, I will discuss how scientists can detect them in the universe. Wormholes are theoretical passages through space-time that could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe. Although they are still hypothetical, wormholes have been popularized in a number of Hollywood films, including the recent box-office smash ‘Interstellar.’ We will discuss the theory behind wormholes and what they might mean for humans as we push deeper into space.”
Dr. Khurana received her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi. She has taught for 25 years in India, Canada and the U.S. and has published 16 research articles. She currently teaches at Mitchell Community College.
The Evening at PARI program will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the presentation, followed by a campus tour, a trip to the Exhibit Gallery and an observing session. The program will take place regardless of the weather so attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for being outside and to wear comfortable walking shoes. Each participant will also have the opportunity to have a photo taken with a PARI telescope and will receive a subscription to the PARI newsletter and a 10% discount on PARI merchandise.
Reservations are required and will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. the day of the event. Evening at PARI programs cost $20 per adult, $15 for seniors/military and $10 for children under 14. Register and pay online at www.pari.edu or call (828) 862-5554. For additional information contact PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth at cwhitworth@pari.edu.
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