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Supernovae and their remnants are studied by observations at
different wavelengths of radiation (center) as well as supercomputer
simulations (left and right). The Image at the center shows
the Cassiopeia A gas nebula, the diffuse remnant of a supernova that
exploded around 1680
(green and blue: X-ray; yellow: optical;
red: infrared;
souces: NASA/CXC/SAO; NASA/STScI; NASA/JPL-Caltech/Steward/Oliver
Krause et al. (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie)).
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On the one hand such an event can be very destructive, but on the
other hand there would not be any planets, plants or animals without
these cosmic catastrophes. These explosions drive the galactic matter
cycle, during which many generations of stars and supernovae forge the
heavy elements (heavier than helium) before these are - distributed by
the stellar explosions into the surrounding universe - being recycled
in new stars and planetary systems.
The astrophysicist Hans-Thomas Janka studies the complex, physical
processes in supernova explosions with computer models. In the next
Café & Kosmos he will talk about the fascination regarding these
events, the large challenges associated with the exact modelling of the
explosion in three dimensions, and the hopes (and fears) connected
with the next stellar explosion in our Milky Way.
What: Café & Kosmos
When: 8 November 2011, 19:00
Where: Vereinsheim, Occamstr. 8, 80802 München (U3/U6 Münchner Freiheit)
Entrance free.
Please note that the event will be conducted in German.
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