In Dust We Trust: Illuminating the Cosmos with Infrared Observations
7:30 pm, Monday October 7, 2024
TELUS World of Science – Zeidler Dome
FREE and open to the public.
This is a hybrid meeting. You may attend in person or via zoom.
In Dust We Trust: Illuminating the Cosmos with Infrared Observations
Guest Speaker: Hamid Hassani, University of Alberta
JWST image of the Pillars of Creation
Cosmic dust may seem insignificant, but it plays a vital role in shaping the universe as we know it. From the birth of stars to the formation of planets and the evolution of galaxies, dust is involved in many key processes. Dust helps cool gas clouds, allowing stars to form, and it also serves as the building material for planetary systems. In galaxies, dust obscures starlight and can change how we see distant cosmic structures. By studying how dust interacts with light, both visible and infrared, we can gain a deeper understanding of the universe. This review delves into the significant role of cosmic dust, examining its influence on star formation, nebulae, and the broader structure of galaxies.
Hamid Hassani with PHANGS poster.
Hamid Hassani is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta, where he researches how galaxies form and evolve. With a background in radio astronomy, he completed his master’s thesis studying radio emissions from the Magellanic Clouds. In his current studies, Hamid uses data from telescopes like AstroSat, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to explore the roles of dust and gas in creating new stars. He is also part of the PHANGS survey, an international collaboration focused on understanding the characteristics of nearby galaxies.