PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
WEEKLY BULLETIN
September 20-26, 1996
Friday, September 20 8:00-10:00 p.m. Goodsell Observatory
OPEN HOUSE Tired of those everyday, young energetic photons? Are you eager to sample some really old photons with some true cosmic experience? Come to our public evening at Goodsell Observatory on Friday, September 20 from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Tour the observatory and sample some telescopic views of Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon, Comet Hale-Bopp, the Andromeda Galaxy and other cosmic wonders. If clouds get in the way, the observatory will be open for tours and computers in the Astronomical Imaging Lab, Goodsell 104, will be available to show you our latest cosmic images and offer armchair tours of the universe.
Anyone with telescope experience is cordially invited to help with the open house. Please see Cindy or Joel if you are interested in serving as cosmic tour guides.
Monday, September 23 12:30 p.m. CTR
PHYSICS / ASTRONOMY TABLE: Meet in Goodsell lobby at 12:20 p.m. for the walk to the CTR or join us there at 12:30. Everyone is welcome!
Tuesday, September 24 4:30 p.m. Goodsell 3
SENIORS: There will be an important meeting at this time to discuss (1) comps, and (2) post-Carleton planning (careers and graduate school). Refreshments, Ann Ness from the Career Center, and our own Comps Coordinator will be provided. Any junior(s) thinking about doing comps this year should also attend.
Tuesday, September 24 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Great Space
PEACE CORPS representatives will be on campus. Visit the information table in the Great Space between 9 and 4. An information seminar will be held a 4:00 p.m. in Sayles Hill Room 251.
Thursday, September 26 8:00-10:30 p.m. Goodsell Observatory
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: A total eclipse of the Moon will be visible here in Northfield on Thursday, September 26. The eclipse will begin shortly after sunset at 7:15 p.m. when the Moon begins to enter the Earth's partial shadow or penumbra. The most noticeable darkening of the Moon will begin when it enters the umbra, or darkest portion of the Earth's shadow. This occurs at 8:15 p.m. At 9:20 p.m. the Moon is completely within the Earth's umbral shadow and totality begins. Totality ends at 10:25 p.m., with the Moon leaving the umbral shadow completely by 11:30 p.m.
Weather permitting, this will be a good celestial event to enjoy from your backyard. However, Goodsell will be open from 8:00-10:30 p.m. if you would like to catch a glimpse of the shadowed Moon through the telescope.
Friday, September 27 5:30 p.m. Hill of 2.5 Oaks
Announcing a picnic for people who can't get enough of the physics social scene. Come join your study buddies and favorite professors on the hill of two and a half oaks for some good food (including Amanda B's specially marinated grilled stuff).
If you haven't already, please let us have your ID#, so we can include you in all this fun, email it to walzflaa or leinharz ASAP.
COMMENTS:
* Student Research Poster Symposium Did you hold a research position last summer? How about displaying a poster on your work at the annual student poster symposium on Friday, September 27, 3:30 p.m., in Hulings (Bio) Hall. This is an excellent opportunity to practice skills you will need at professional meetings. Contact Joel, Prof. Susan Singer in Biology, or Prof. Trish Ferrett in Chemistry, for more information.
* Chance to Strut Your Stuff The Seventh Annual Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering and Mathematics will be held at Argonne National Laboratory on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2. Research papers, presented exclusively by undergraduates, will be accepted in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. For more information, contact Bill Titus.
* Research Semester Do you want a research experience at a National Lab either this spring or next fall? The U. S. Department of Energy offers a Science and Engineering Research Semester (SERS) at the following National Labs: Lawrence Livermore, Brookhaven, Argonne, Pacific Northwest, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge. The deadline for Spring 1997 is October 21 and for Fall 1997, March 17. For more information, contact Bill Titus or look at SERS.
* Summer Fun Physics seniors: Application are now being accepted for the 1997 APS Industrial Summer Intern Program, which provides an opportunity for physics students to spend time in an industrial environment during the summer months. It carries a $2000 monthly stipend and is an excellent way to see how physics is used in industry. Deadline is October 25. Bill Titus has some more information if you're interested.
* Graduate Fellowships (for more information, see Bill Titus)
1. National Physical Science Consortium Graduate Fellowships for Minorities and Women in the Physical Sciences. Deadline is November 15.
2. The Link Foundation Energy Fellowship Program. Purpose is to foster energy research through graduate school stipends. Deadline is December 1.
* Seniors: Here's a comps idea: the Physics/Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, and Biology departments are seeking to organize an interdisciplinary comps group consisting of one or two students from each department, addressing the common topic of fullerenes--huge carbon molecules typically shaped like soccer balls or long tubes. These have many applications in materials science, and physicists have studied their electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Participating students would meet for discussions winter term, and present a joint symposium during spring term. The written paper would be the same as for an ordinary physics comps. If you are interested in finding out more about this option, get in touch with Steve Durbin.
* Want to learn C? Bill and Doug are interested in facilitating a low-pressure, self-paced class built around the book Teach Yourself C Programming in 21 Days. This not-for-credit class will be scheduled for Saturdays, starting on October 5. We would like everyone to buy their own copy of the book. The cost is about $25.00. Please contact Doug by September 27 if you'd like to join the group.
* Neat Site To keep up with discoveries of extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs, check out The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia.
* Career info For lots of interesting physics career info, go to the career/employment page under the American Physical Society home page.