{"id":71367,"date":"2022-04-28T15:06:28","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T19:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/?post_type=news&p=71367"},"modified":"2022-04-28T15:10:22","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T19:10:22","slug":"new-look-the-astronomy-and-astrophysics-research-lab","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/news\/new-look-the-astronomy-and-astrophysics-research-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"New Look: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheA visitor\u2019s view of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab. Recently the Lab received new high-resolution displays and a paint job. Photo: K. Swain\/NCMNS.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Dr. Rachel Smith<\/strong><\/a>, Head of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab and Curator of Meteorites<\/em><\/p>\n

The Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, located at the Museum’s downtown Raleigh location, recently got a makeover! The Lab is now outfitted with new high-resolution displays and a new paint job in spacey blue.<\/p>\n

Adjacent to the Museum\u2019s meteorite and astronomy-themed exhibits on the third floor of the Nature Research Center, this Lab brings cutting-edge research and the beauty of the cosmos to visitors just beyond its floor-to-ceiling windows. While standing next to an iron meteorite \u2014 the core of a failed planet \u2014 you can find highlights of current research conducted by its resident astrophysicists: Dr. Rachel Smith, Head of the Lab and Curator of Meteorites, who investigates forming stars and planets and how they connect to meteorites and carbon chemistry; and Dr. Patrick Treuthardt, Assistant Head, who studies the evolution of galaxies, including their forms, structures, and connections to dark matter.<\/p>\n

\"TheA favorite theme in the Lab is connecting our journey beyond Earth with the search for life in the universe. This image shows a rendering of Earth\u2019s radiosphere (center) \u2014 the distance humans have sent signals out to space, a mere ~100 lightyears \u2014 juxtaposed with the lunar south pole (adjacent wall). Photo: R. Smith\/NCMNS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Large-screen tiles on the Lab’s walls take visitors on a journey from Earth to our local planetary neighbors, and out to the edge of the visible universe, making various stops at planetary surfaces and celestial bodies, all rendered from real data from satellites and space missions. Using new interactive, open-source software called OpenSpace<\/em>, the Lab showcases thematically linked video clips, presenting a unique visual digital narrative \u2014 selected snapshots of our cosmic address which are rendered in spectacular detail by OpenSpace<\/em>. At times you\u2019ll find my undergraduate students working in the Lab to learn the software, record videos and create stories through imagery. These interns are an integral part of how the Lab connects the public with ongoing science, research, and discoveries.<\/p>\n

View a short clip showing a few of the OpenSpace visuals on display:<\/h5>\n

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