Fossils in Our Galaxy

Prof. Kim Venn

University of Victoria

Register For The Webinar

Or watch on YouTube

Kim A. Venn is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Victoria, and Director of the UVic Astronomy Research Centre. She is a specialist in observational stellar spectroscopy, and the chemo-dynamical analysis of stars in the Galaxy and its nearby dwarf satellites.

The Milky Way. Source: NASA

Stars contain a fossil record of the chemistry of the Universe at the time and place where they were born. Stars formed early in the universe contain very low amounts of elements heavier than Helium, and astronomers call these stars ‘metal-poor’. They are the fossils of ancient star formation in the galaxy.

By studying the most metal-poor of these stars, we can read that fossil record to learn about the origin of the elements and formation of the Galaxy. In this talk, I will discuss the recent results on the metal-poor galaxy, including newly discovered streams in the halo, very metal-poor stars found in the Galactic Centre, and metal-poor stars in the Galactic disk that orbit in the opposite direction.

Register in advance for the International Astronomy Day Celebration

Register For The Webinar

Or watch on YouTube

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Star Party.

Also on the Program:

• DAO Virtual Tour

• Live Solar Viewing from the DAO

• University of Victoria Telescope Tour

• Ask an Astronomer (or two) with Jason Beaman and Nathan Hellner-Mestelman

• Astrophotography Gallery with Marjie Welchframe and friends featuring music from Vox Humana

• Planetaruim Show from the CU

• Live Streaming from the Plaskett Telescope, the CU and other locations

• featuring Dan Posey, David Lee and the RASC Electronic Assisted Astronomy Group