Astrophysicist to Speak at GCU on the Origins of Solar Systems

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Written by Tara Strickland

Just a couple decades ago, we knew of one solar system in the universe--ours. Since the mid-1990s, however, astronomers have discovered hundreds of planets orbiting nearby stars. In parallel, we are gaining new insight into how these myriad solar systems, including ours, came to be. Georgian Court University welcomes astrophysicist Joel Kastner, Ph.D., for a public lecture on "Understanding the Origins of Solar Systems: The Modern Astronomer's Toolkit." Dr. Kastner's talk, which will include discussion of exo-planets, or planets in other solar systems, will take place in the Little Theatre on GCU's Lakewood campus on Thursday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m.

This talk presents an overview of selected techniques in modern astronomical imaging across the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation--from radio waves through powerful X-rays--and describes, in detail, specific cases in which these techniques are advancing astronomers' understanding of the origins of stars and planets.

Dr. Kastner is a Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science (CIS) professor and director of the Laboratory for Multiwavelength Astrophysics at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is an expert in astronomical imaging with emphasis on young stars and planet formation, evolved stars and planetary nebulae, X-ray imaging and spectroscopy, infrared imaging and spectroscopy, and radio (molecular line) spectroscopy.

His academic work focuses on the study of star and planet formation, as well as the dying stages of stars like our sun. One of his goals is to find new ways to discover planets outside our solar system by examining stars and the gases that surround them. Seeing that type of activity can indicate future planet formation.

He is the author or co-author of more than 50 refereed papers in astronomical literature over the past 10 years. He is a member of proposal review panels for the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the National Science Foundation radio astronomy program.

Dr. Kastner received a B.S in Physics from the University of Maryland (1981) and a Master of Science (1986) and Ph.D. (1990) in Astronomy from the University of California--Los Angeles.

This event, which is sponsored by the NASA Education Resource Center (ERC) at Georgian Court University and the Society of Physics students, is free and open to the public. Reservations are only required for parties of 20 or more by e-mailing nasa@georgian.edu. Otherwise no reservations are required.

Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is a comprehensive university with a strong liberal arts core and a special concern for women. A forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, Georgian Court announced in May 2012 its transition to a fully coeducational university in 2013. Today, the university serves nearly 2,500 students of all faiths and backgrounds in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Georgian Court's main campus is located at 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, N.J., on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, a National Historic Landmark. Georgian Court also offers classes at the New Jersey Coastal Communiversity in Wall.