Artist's rendition
of a black hole.
- Black holes represent some of the most extreme environments in the Universe; places where even light can not escape! In this show, you'll learn all about what makes a black hole tick, where they come from, and why a black hole has no hair!
- Developed by: Tuan Do, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Black Holes
Image of brown dwarfs
in The Chamaeleon.
- When is a star not a star? Why, when it's a brown dwarf, of course. Our galaxy is littered with these cool, dim objects which didn't quite make it to becoming a full-fledged star. Learn about why astronomers study these bodies and what they can tell us about star formation.
- Developed by: Emily Rice, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Brown Dwarfs
First image of an
extrasolar planet.
- In the past decade, we've catalogued more worlds orbiting other stars than there are in our own solar system. In this talk, we introduce the methods astronomers use to hunt down these elusive objects, explore the sometimes bizarre environments of these worlds, and muse on the possibility of finding another Earth.
- Developed by: Christopher Crockett, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Extrasolar Planets
Optical image of
Andromeda Galaxy
- Galaxies are the largest objects in the Universe. In this set of shows, you'll learn about the galaxy we call home, explore the vast assortment of galaxies which make up our Universe, and find out what happens when two galaxies collide!
- Developed by: Kathy Kornei, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student;
- Nate McCrady, UCLA Astronomy Postdoctoral Researcher
Galaxies, The Realm of Galaxies
The center of our Galaxy
in radio wavelengths
- Take a journey to the center of our Milky Way galaxy. See what the Milky Way looks like from Earth; learn how we observe the center of our galaxy; and keep zooming in until we can learn things about the supermassive black hole that resides at the Galactic Center.
- Developed by: Jessica Lu, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Journey to the Center of the Milky Way:
A Supermassive Black Hole
Part of a radio message
broadcast in 1974
- A set of shows which explore one of the most intriguing questions: does life exist elsewhere in the Universe? These shows highlight some of the major scientific goals of Astrobiology. We explore the history of our search for other life forms, how we might locate life on other worlds, and the possibility of communication with extraterrestrial intelligence.
- Developed by: Shelley Wright, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student;
- Christopher Crockett, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Life in the Universe
Stellar cluster
in Rosette Nebula
- Stars are born and stars die, but what happens in between? Where do stars hang out? Just like us, stars are social creatures and tend to stick together in groups. These groups can tell us alot about the lives of stars and about the structure of our galaxy. In this show, you'll learn all about these stellar neighborhoods and the stories they can tell us.
- Developed by: Kevin Hainline, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Stellar Clusters
The twin Keck telescopes
atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii
- Astronomers have been using telescopes since they were invented in the 1600's. Learn about some of the most famous ones built over the last 400 years.
- Developed by: Sarah Lipscy, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Telescopes of the World
Composite optical and x-ray
image of Bullet Cluster
- Adapted from Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy, take a look at some of the most spectacular astronomical images captured over the course of a year. From right here in our own solar system to the most distant corners of the Universe, these images are not only spectacular to look at, but can tell us a lot about how this Universe of ours is put together.
- Developed by: Kevin Hainline, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student
Top Ten Images of 2006
Snapshot of Saturn
from Cassini spacecraft
- We'll start at the Sun and take a tour through the Solar System. Along the way, we will see some of the most extraordinary landscapes ever imaged. Learn about the composition and features of the planets and many moons in our corner of the Galaxy.
- Developed by: Quinn Konopacky, UCLA Astronomy Graduate Student