December 3, 2018 7:30-9:30PM

Event: Astronomy on Tap
Venue: Der Wolfskopf

Talk 1

Title: The Multiwavelength Universe
Lecturer: Abby Crites
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution: Caltech

Talk 2

Title: Seeing Planetary Systems Through Polarized Sunglasses
Lecturer: Max Millar-Blanchaer
Position: Staff Scientist
Institution: JPL

Quiz Questions / Answers

1. This is an actual photograph of the surface of what Solar System object? (bonus point for specifying landing site!) Answer: Mars, Elysium Planitia
2. I am the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biochemistry at Caltech. In October I was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for “the directed evolution of enzymes.” Who am I? Answer: Frances H. Arnold
3. What JAXA spacecraft embarked on an asteroid sample-return mission on 3 December 2014 and deployed two rovers and a surface scout to the asteroid surface in September—October 2018? Answer: Hayabusa2
4. Polarimetry was instrumental in the discovery that the thick clouds that cover Venus are made of: (A) Hydrochloric acid (B) Lysergic acid diethylamide (C) Sulfuric acid (D) Hydroxilic acid Answer: C
5. NASA’s InSight mission, which touched down successfully a week ago today, features the first deployment of what technology to another planet? Answer: CubeSats
6. What color is Mace Windu’s light saber? Answer: Purple
7. What is the name of the first meteor shower of 2019, which will peak during 3—4 January, and which is named for a constellation that no longer exists? Answer: Quadrantids
8. In what decade were radio waves discovered? Answer: 1880s
9. On 6 November, the Indian Space Research Organisation released an announcement regarding a planned mission to what Solar System object, scheduled for launch in mid-2023? Answer: Venus
10. Debris disks are extrasolar analogs to: (A) The asteroid belt (B) The Kuiper belt (C) Saturn’s rings (D) All of the above (E) A & B (F) B & C. Answer: E