Astronomy Professor Will Map Milky Way Halo Oct. 22

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Hakeem Oluseyi, Florida Institute of Technology assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Space Sciences, will present “Mapping the Milky Way Halo with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope” on Oct. 22. Part of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Public Lecture Series, the free presentation will be held on campus at 8 p.m. in the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex, Room EC118. Weather permitting, rooftop public star viewing will follow.

A major objective of modern astrophysics is to understand the details of galaxy formation and evolution. Studies of the structure and dynamics of our Milky Way galaxy, in particular, advance a pathway to understanding the details of galaxy evolution in general.The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), recently named a top priority for new U.S. observatories, has unprecedented power for mapping the Milky Way structure across half of the sky.

In this presentation, Oluseyi will discuss the design of the LSST and what we do and do not know about galaxy formation and evolution, including some new, never-before-seen results.

Oluseyi is an internationally noted researcher and science communicator. His research is funded by several major grants, including funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation and the Florida Space Grant Consortium.

The F.W. Olin Engineering Complex is located on West University Boulevard. For more information, call (321) 674-7207or visitwww.fit.edu/aapls.