Evolution of the Universe
From the Big Bang to Now and to the Future
Wednesdays – Sept. 18, 25; Oct. 9 – 7-9 PM online
Cosmology paints a picture of the universe born from “nothing” that has evolved for 13.8 billion years to the beauty and complexity we observe today. We’ll quote from and give commentary upon
“Cosmology Bible (2024 Version)”
“Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and The Apocalypse (Revelation)”
Genesis, Sept. 18– A universe from nothing- the physics underlying the Big Bang. The creation of matter and the incredibly fast expansion (inflation) of the embryonic cosmos. From quarks and electrons to hydrogen. Dark era of a cosmic fog blocking light and then no stars to make light. Recombination period- the fog lifts.
Exodus, Sept. 25– Moving forward in the continuing expansion of the universe. Distinct stages in its evolution, ending at the formation of stars and galaxies and elements.
Numbers, Sept. 25 and Oct. 9- Summary of evidences for a Big Bang. Calculation of when it happened and current expansion of cosmos as percentage increase. Present uncertainty of its exact rate of expansion, H the Hubble constant. Estimating 93 billion lightyears as its present diameter.
Apocalypse (Revelation), Oct. 9 – Scenarios for the universe’s distant future. Key parameters that fix the cosmos’s future. Images and graphs summarizing past and future cosmic evolution.
These are the major features of Big Bang understandings designated as the Lambda-Cold Dark Matter
(Λ-CDM) model.
Familiarity with basics of stars and galaxies is helpful, and will be reviewed.
Instructor: David Kiefer
Astronomy lecturer Brooklyn College, Chair of AAA Classes Committee and Board member.
Co-host Bob Marx. CUNY physics instructor, member of AAA Classes Committee, active in AAA events like authoring articles appearing in Eyepiece.
Tuition is $36 for members, $45 for nonmembers. All welcome. Join us.
Register in the Tickets Window below.*
* Your receipt will contain the link to the GC (Google Classroom) used for class materials, communicating with the instructor and classmates, and getting the Zoom link to enter each class after 6:45 PM . Click on the GC link immediately to be added to the class roster.
Recording: The day after a class its Zoom recording link is provided to class members on the GC page.
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Want more on these deep and fascinating themes?
Join Matthias Schmitt in Cosmology 102, with four classes starting Nov. 20. This is a sequel to Cosmology 101, BUT its topics are very different and can be understood on their own. Look for the 102 announcement in November on this website page and for emails about it.
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