KELSEYVILLE >> Taylor’s Einstein expert, Tim Gill, will describe the exciting discovery of gravitational waves at tonight’s Taylor Window to the Universe Public event starting at 7:30 p.m.
Einstein’s theory of relativity made two startling predictions about gravity. One was that a heavy object, such as our sun, would bend light from distant stars. The second was that gravitational waves would be generated when two massive bodies collapsed into each other.
In 1918 Sir Arthur Eddington proved the light bending theory and the world celebrated the news. Amazingly, it’s taken another 100 years to verify the gravitational wave prediction of Einstein. Verification occurred in February of this year when a passing wave was finally detected.
This particular gravitational wave arose from the collapse of two black holes one billion miles distant from our solar system. The gravitational waves just reached us here on earth. Scientists in Louisiana and Washington state were ready, using a laser apparatus which was funded by the National Science Foundation in 1992, at that time the most expensive NSF project ever. On Saturday visitors to Taylor will learn the fascinating details of the gravitational wave discovery.
Effective this month Taylor Observatory has a new policy for children’s admission: All Lake County students in grades K-12 will have free admission to the monthly Window to the Universe events. For others, tickets are $5. Donations to Taylor have made this change possible.
The Window to the Universe event includes the lecture, a planetarium show, and weather permitting, views of the moon, Jupiter, and various deep space objects through Taylor telescopes.
Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium sponsors Window to the Universe events. Taylor is located at the end of Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville. For further information phone 415 209-3084, or visit the Friends of Taylor Facebook page.
