Cosmic Rays in a Violent Universe

Presenter: Owen Ellis

Owen will talk about the thermal history of the Universe over the last few hundred million years and outline how the formation of structure, the first stars and early galaxies fit into our broader understanding of this. He will introduce Cosmic Rays and their sources in violent astrophysical environments in the early Universe, and discuss their role in the bigger picture.

Having studied at Cambridge and UCL, and worked at the Max-Planck-Institute in Germany, Owen is now a PhD student at University College London’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) near Dorking. His research is in theoretical astroparticle physics and cosmology, which aims to apply our understanding of small-scale high energy physics seen in the lab to the wider Universe.

The Vectis Astronomical Society meets on the 4th Friday of every month, except for December. This event is open for non-members to attend. The speakers come from all over the country and give a presentation for around 45 mins. We then stop for a break with tea and biscuits, which gives an opportunity to mingle and chat.

The second half of the evening sees a presentation by one of our regular members showing us what to we could see in the sky over the coming month. This always involves some great pictures projected onto the large screen.

Entry to the event is free of charge, although as we run as a charity, donations are always welcome.

Newsletters are available at the entrance for a suggested donation of £2.50

Please see our website for contact and membership details.