Today in Lansing: Astronomy on Tap

Astronomy on Tap

7:30 to 10 p.m.

The Loft

414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12 — Professors get out of the classroom and perform onstage with Astronomy on Tap, a program talking about cosmic oddities in an informal setting.

This week features speakers Elias Aydi and Matthew Mitchie talking about when the universe was orange and how molecules form in space.

Devin Silvia, a teaching specialist and faculty member in the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering at Michigan State University, has been running the program for three years.

“A lot of people think the Universe was always black with empty space,” Silvia said. “But at very early times it was much smaller and denser and hotter. If you work out exactly how hot it was, it would be orange.”

Molecules in space like ethanol play a critical role in forming stars, but they also tend to have a signature flavor of their own, Silvia added.

“There was a study on certain molecules in the gas between stars. —it found there is a lot of alcohol in it, and if you were to give it a flavor it would taste like raspberries.”

Astronomy on Tap was started to have a more scientifically literate public, Silvia said.

“Most outreach is aimed with younger generation. But beyond college, for many people learning stops.”

Astronomy on Tap provides an opportunity to bridge this gap. “It offers a place to continue education in a low stakes environment where it is okay to ask questions about things you don't understand.”

Attendees can also hear about how astronomy has changed over the years.

“Not all astronomers are outside at night with star charts and telescopes,” Silvia said. “At one point in time, that was a large part of the field, but now with all the tech available I don't ever look through a telescope.”

Silvia said he works primarily through computer simulations to see if the code matches what telescopes observe. A lot of astronomers also do purely theoretical work with pencils and paper, he added.

Along with the presentation there will be a Q & A session.

“Anything we ever do cannot be used in a negative way. All we are doing is increasing human knowledge in the universe, and there is an infinite amount more to study,” Silvia said.

More events in Lansing:

History Hounds: The Pere Marquette 1225 Locomotive

7 to 9 p.m., $7, The Historical Society of Michigan, 5815 Executive Dr., Lansing

Zoo in Your Neighborhood

6 to 7 p.m., Delta Township District Library, 5130 Davenport Dr., Lansing

A Festival of Trees

1 to 7 p.m., Turner-Dodge House & Heritage Center, 100 E. North St., Lansing