Exploring Modern Astronomy

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered, “are we alone?”  Want to learn more about how the amazing technological advances of space-based telescopes (like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes) is revolutionizing modern astronomy?  Are you curious about what astronomers do, and how the field draws upon many other areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and design?  Have you ever wanted to meet and talk with a professional astronomer and learn about what they do?

Come to the FREE public lecture by Professor Michael Meyer, Chair of the University of Michigan’s Department of Astronomy, for a unique opportunity to explore all of these topics — including time for a Q&A session especially for students and teachers!  

• When: Wednesday, 10 September, 2025; Presentation from 6 – 7 p.m.; Q&A with Dr. Meyer from 7 – 8 p.m.; Open public observing at Jackson College’s new Astronomical Observatory from 8 – 11 p.m.
• Where: Jackson College’s Central Campus, in the Bert Walker Hall Community Rooms
• Who: Open to the general public, with special focus on all local high-school & college students, as well as educators (Q&A session aimed at encouraging career opportunities in STEM)
• Cost: FREE, with snacks provided!

Teachers — stick around after for a planning session for future STEM transition events!

Speaker Info:
Michael R. Meyer (born 1967, A.B. Physics, Washington University in St.Louis, M.S. in Physics, University of Missouri, PhD in Astronomy, University of Massachusetts) was Chair of Star and Planet Formation at the ETH in Zürich (2009-2016) and was formerly a Professor & Astronomer at the Department of Astronomy & Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona (2000-2009).  He was a Hubble Fellow at the University of Arizona (1997-2000) and did a post-doc at the Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomie (1995-1997).  He has more than 25 years of international scientific research experience, in the fields of galactic and infrared astronomy, as well as the formation, evolution, and characterisation of planetary systems (and associated implications on the prospects for life in the Universe).  He has experience participating in the development of ground- and space-based instrumentation, including both the NIRCam and NIRISS instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope as well as high contrast imaging systems/spectrographs for 6-10 meter telescopes and next generation extremely large telescopes.

Submit your questions for Dr. Meyer here.