The life and (sometimes untimely) death of stars

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UNSW Canberra

Dr Ashley Ruiter (UNSW Canberra) will tell us why the life cycle and ultimate fate of stars is a fascinating topic of active study.

The Kingston Hotel

What: Astronomy-themed public talk When: Thursday March 9 evening (6:30 pm doors open for 7:30 pm start) Where: Kingston Hotel (function room). Abstract: We have learned a lot about how stars live and die through observing and modelling our most familiar star - the Sun. But most stars in the Universe do not grow up as a singleton like our Sun, but rather live with close siblings, where 1 or more stars are bound to each other (by gravity). As stars evolve toward their final fates, they may get too close to their nearby companion star, dumping matter onto it. This 'stellar mass exchange' can be gentle or violent, and is at the heart of the most energetic phenomena that occur in our Universe: nova eruptions, supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, and kilonovae. These events expel elements like oxygen, iron, and silver back into space for recycling into new generations of stars and planets. I will discuss the different fates that stars can have - from small stars like our humble Sun to massive stars that end up as black holes - and how astronomical observations and computer models help to understand the impact that stars' lives have on our understanding of physics and chemistry in our Universe. If you wish to arrive earlier, there are plenty of areas inside the Kingston Hotel for you to sit and order food and drinks. Food can be served in the function room during the talk. We'd suggest ordering before 7.00pm to ensure you don't miss anything! The room will be set up with some tables, some extra rows of chairs and some standing room - be sure to arrive early to get a good spot. Please bring proof of Eventbrite registration to claim your free drink ticket upon arrival, valid for a house beer, wine or soft drink. We look forward to seeing you there.

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