Hanscom AFB Chapter
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Radisson Heritage Motel
10 Independence Drive, Chelmsford MA -- Adjacent to Parlmont Plaza
Adjacent to Intersection of Route 110 (Chelmsford Street) and Route 495 (Exit 34)
On Route 110 between Chelmsford Center and the Route 3 Intersection
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Refreshements 6:00 p.m. Dinner 6:30 p.m. Guest Speaker 7:45 p.m.
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James M. Moran
Chairman of the Astronomy Department,
Donald H. Menzel Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University, &
Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Supermassive Black Holes
ABSTRACT
Almost every galaxy in the Universe probably has a a black hole at its center with a mass of a million to a billion times the mass of our sun. How these black holes evolve with their host galaxies over cosmic time is one of the great questions of modern astronomy.
The nearest example of a super massive black hole is the one that lies in the center of our Milky Way galaxy some 26 million light years away. It appears to be in a state of very low activity now, but that could change.
I will describe some remarkable observations of "our" black hole made with the newly commissioned Submillimeter Array of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which operates in the frequency range of 200 to 700 GHz (1.5 to 0.43 mm). This telescope has been linked with telescopes in California and Arizona to form a very long baseline interferometer with an unprecedented resolution of 50 microarcseconds, which has been used to detect radiation generated very close to the event horizon of the black hole.
BIOGRAPHY
BS University of Notre Dame,
1963
PhD MIT, 1968
Professional Societies:
National Academy of Sciences (1998)
American Astronomical Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow, 1982)
International Astronomical Union (President of Division X and Commission 40, 1997 – 2000)
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (Senior Member, 1983, Fellow, 2002)
International Union of Radio Sciences
Commitees:
2005 NRL, Advisory Panel for Large Array HF/VHF Imaging Program
2007 Haystack Observatory Futures Committee
2007–2009 NAS Committee on a Survey of the Scientific Use of the Radio Spectrum
2010 Decadal Review of Astrophysics Committee
Awards:
Rumford Prize (1971) (shared), American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Outstanding Publication Award (1975) (shared), Naval Research Laboratory
Outstanding Publication Award (1979) (shared), Naval Research Laboratory
Newton Lacy Pierce Prize (1978), American Astronomical Society
Senior Humboldt Award (1992), Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung
Jansky Lectureship (1996), National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Hobbies - participating in triathlons
(1st place in 2009 Gloucester
Triathlonin 65-69 age group)
Menu Choices:
· NANTUCKET SWORDFISH Char-Grilled and Served with a Tomato Basil Chutney
· CHICKEN MARSALA Sautéed and finished with Marsala wine and mushrooms
New England Clam Chowder, Caesar Salad, Entree, Fresh Rolls, Dessert, Coffee/Tea
Invite other interested parties to attend!
Please Respond No Later than Wednesday October 7th
Please return this section with your check to the Chapter Secretary, or to one or your Hanscom AFB representatives listed at the bottom of the page. A little bit late responding? Call the Secretary we’ll try to fit you in!
"-------------------- Cut here and include this form with your response -------------------------------
Number Attending: ___________
Please Indicate Your Choice(s): Respond by Wednesday October 7th
|
______ Nantucket Swordfish $35.00 per person |
______ Chicken Marsala $35.00 per person |
Banquet reservations should be made by phone or mail as soon as possible to your banquet representative identified below. The banquet cost is indicated above, please make out checks to Sigma Xi and send them to the Robert Hartwell, Chapter Secretary, 10 Parlee Road, Chelmsford MA 01824.
Your Hanscom Chapter representatives:
Pres. Paul Carr 781-377-3686 |
Steve Mittleman (RYH) 781 377 4038 |
Don Hunton (RVBXT) 781 377 4057 |
Robert Hartwell (Sec) 978 204 7412 |
Your Chapter secretary may be contacted as follows:
Robert Hartwell, 10 Parlee Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824
AFRL at Hanscom will be relocating to Albuquerque and Dayton; this may be the last year we can maintain a viable chapter. We plan to make a contribution to Sigma Xi headquarters to establish a lasting memorial commemorating over sixty years of active chapter activity. Look for an email info query soon