When you think about a black hole, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of movies like Interstellar or other sci-fi classics which tackle the daunting subject. Or maybe your mind begins to wander at the sheer enormity of such a cosmic creation. Whatever you think when it comes to this galactic giants, black holes are a subject which have fascinated humans since their discovery. A wondrous and fearsome occurrence resting far beyond our skies, taking a deeper look at black holes is a wonderful way to begin to understand the chaotic beauty of the stars. If you’ve always wanted to learn more about the role that black holes play in our skies, you’ll want to join the New Jersey State Museum for their latest installment of Science Under the Stars.
On Saturday, June 29th, the New Jersey State Museum will be hosting the next installment of their Science Under the Stars series, “What We Can Learn From Images of Black Holes”. Your host for this afternoon’s talk is Zachary Gelles, a Princeton University professor and subject matter expert in the topic at hand. The conversation will kick off at 4:15pm at the New Jersey State Museum campus, located at 205 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608. There is plenty of free parking available to visitors, including the NJSM’s lot, as well as plenty of street parking. The upcoming lecture will center what black holes are, how they are formed, and how we are able to document these occurrences. A brilliant overview of the work of astrophysics, this family-friendly event is certain to captivate aspiring astronomy enthusiasts of all ages.
So what is a black hole? Simply put, a black hole is a cosmological phenomenon in an area with such a high concentration of gravity that nothing, including light, has the ability to escape from it. Black holes typically occur following the collapse of a giant star. That said, scientists are still working on discovering the other scenarios in which black holes could arise. And what happens if you were to enter a black hole? Nothing fun! Quantum mechanics experts have theorized that if an astronaut were to enter a black hole, they would immediately evaporate due to the immense volume of pressure. One of the greatest discoveries of our time, a black hole is something best observed from a distance.
For more information on this and other upcoming events, please visit the New Jersey State Museum’s website, which is linked here: NJSM – Home. You can also keep up with the NJSM on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have any questions leading up to the lecture, please contact the NJSM staff at info.njsm@sos.nj.gov or (609) 292-6464 for additional assistance. Don’t miss the chance to fall down the rabbit hole of black holes, be sure to come out for this engaging and educational afternoon!
