PORT ANGELES — Combining historical clues with more recent observations, NASA Outreach Coordinator Donna Young will discuss the catastrophic collapse of the star Cassiopeia A at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Young’s free presentation, “The Mystery of the Missing Supernova,” will take place at the Port Angeles Library at 2210 S. Peabody St.
In July of 1999, NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory was launched.
Cas A’s first light
After achieving a final orbit, the mirrors focused on Cassiopeia A (Cas A) to calibrate the instruments. The stunning first light image of Cas A provided an unparalleled view of the destroyed star and for the first time the neutron stellar core at the center of the remnant was seen.
The catastrophic collapse of the star that resulted in the supernova event happened between 300 and 400 years ago; however, the exact time is still a mystery.
Bits and pieces from observational journals, medieval poetry and studies of the Greenland Ice Sheet all give tantalizing but contradictory clues to the event.
Young will present the most recent findings involving the supernova.
She works with the NASA Astrophysics Division through the Chandra X-Ray Center, located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass.
Education, outreach
The newly reorganized NASA education and outreach program has been established as NASA’s Universe of Learning Astrophysics STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) Literacy and Learning Network.
This program now provides formal support for the National Science Olympiad, for which Young has been the national astronomy event supervisor for the past 18 years, and oversees the space science events.
In this capacity, she runs Science Olympiad invitationals and workshops, and coaches clinics. Young travels extensively, presenting at national workshops, meetings and conferences, as well as at public libraries and community colleges.
During her visit to the North Olympic Peninsula, Young will also present “The Mystery of the Missing Supernova” program to students at Port Angeles High School.
About 10 years ago, Young presented “Visions of the Universe” at the Port Angeles Library, which attracted a large audience.
Another program of similar interest is planned at 6:30 p.m. May 22 at the Port Angeles Library.
Gravitational waves
Amber Henry from the LIGO Hanford Observatory will give an overview of the gravitational waves captured in 2015 by twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatories in Washington and Louisiana.
For more information, contact the Port Angeles Library at 360-417-8500, email discover@nols.org or visit www.nols.org and select “Events.”
