Deep within the cold dust and gas which resides in our Milky Way Galaxy, a dramatic story is unfolding: the birth of stars. Understanding the formation and evolution of stars is not only essential in describing the visible universe but it is also important for recognising and appreciating our origins. The Sun and planets did not always exist and it is through comparing careful observations of our solar neighbourhood to cutting-edge theoretical simulations that we are able to investigate our cosmic history and perceive our solar system in the broader context of the Galaxy and, indeed, the universe.
So, where do baby stars come from? In this talk, I will give an overview of the current theory of star formation before highlighting the research I am performing using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), in Hawaiʻi. The JCMT is not tuned to observe visible light, like the kind we see with our eyes. Instead, it captures “submillimetre light” which allows us to probe cold space dust in the process of forming stars. I will share images of stellar nurseries in the directions of famous constellations like Orion, Perseus, Ophiuchus, and Serpens and demonstrate how we are measuring stellar growth spurts in real time.
Steve Mairs is the Senior Scientist at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (East Asian Observatory) in Hilo, Hawaiʻi and a long-time friend of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. He received his PhD in Physics/Astronomy at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. For the past decade, his focus has been on researching our Solar System’s origin by studying the material that lives in the space between the stars. Passionate about science education and outreach, he has hosted many public events and has taught thousands of students of all ages. Known as "Spaceman Steve" online, you can follow him on Youtube, Facebook (@SpacemanSteve), Instagram (@AskSpacemanSteve), and Twitter (@AskSpaceSteve).