Chicago Astronomical Society
    
Chicago
Astronomical
Society
...to promote the interest in, and advance the knowledge and understanding of
astronomy, the most ancient and the noblest of the physical sciences.
The next meeting of the Chicago Astronomical Society will be on
 Saturday, May 3, 2025
 at the
Cernan Earth and Space Center.
Meeting Agenda:
Speaker: Dr. Jim Sweitzer
Topic: The Journey of a Photon: From a Galaxy Far, Far Away to The Mind's Eye
About the Presentation: Chicago Astronomical Society
Stargazers often rhapsodize about photons from deep space landing directly on their retinas as they gaze through their telescopes. But is this really what's going on? In this International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, I will explore what really happens to a photon emitted by a star in the galaxy M51 on its long and eventful journey to our eyes. It will include an introduction to the quantum physics of light for the curious stargazer. Next time you observe, you will bring new eyes to see and new facts to appreciate what you are seeing. My hope is that combining the infinities of the universe with the quantum world of physics will raise your stargazing to ever new heights!
About our Speaker:
If Jim Sweitzer were an astronomical body, he might be called a rogue planet. Unlike most folks who graduate from the University of Chicago with a PhD in Astrophysics, Jim chose to turn his expertise to public science education. His first job was with the Adler Planetarium in Chicago where he eventually became Assistant Director. U of C, however, lured him back to help manage the creation of their Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica, which found him twice at the South Pole. Jim's next adventure was warmer but equally challenging, directing the creation of the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. After its Millennial debut, Jim returned to Chicago to work for DePaul University’s Space Science Center, acting as liaison for NASA's Space Science educational mission in a seven-state midwestern region. In 2004, Jim launched SCC, Science Communications Consultants, a firm that advises on the building and renovation of science museums around the globe, including the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, the largest in the world. Jim is also an avid stargazer delighting in his array of “smart telescopes. He is the author of a book entitled Dear Galileo, Letters from a Contemporary Astronomer to his Hero and the writer of SmartStars.blog, helping stargazers appreciate more of what they see through their telescopes. A lover of the dark sky, Jim has recently served on the American Astronomical Societys, Committee for the Protection of Astronomy and the Space Environment (COMPASSE), devoted to protecting this vital resource. Throughout his career, Jim Sweitzer has shown that the sky is not the limit of our horizons, but the threshold to an amazing Universe we call home. Jim continues to do outreach with the Naperville Astronomical Association