UofT AstroTour: Interstellar: The Science Behind the Movie

Speaker: Ari Silburt

Interstellar is one of the biggest pop sensations of our decade. Currently ranked 21st on IMDB’s “Top 250” list, Interstellar marks an impressive feat of science, suspense and scenery. But how truly accurate is the science behind the movie? Could habitable planets really orbit a Supermassive Black Hole? Can 7 years really pass on Miller’s planet for every hour on Earth? Is it possible that one can enter the fourth dimension through a black hole? In this talk Ari Silburt will examine the science behind the movie, and discuss what is possible vs. what is plausible.

About the Speaker
Obtaining his undergraduate degree in Physics from Mount Allison University, Ari Silburt is now a PhD candidate studying exoplanets at the University of Toronto. Specifically, he is interested in how (ours and other) solar systems are formed, using n-body and statistical techniques to aid his research. In his spare time he enjoys music production, swing dance and Jeff Goldblum.

Location
University of Toronto - St. George Campus
McLennan Physical Labs, Room 102
60 St. George St.
Toronto

http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/astrotours/?page_id=392

The U of T Astronomy Public Tour, or AstroTour, is a monthly event operated by the graduate students of the U of T Astronomy Department. The Tour features a public lecture by a member of the Department on topics ranging from their research to great moments in astronomical history. Following the lecture, tour-goers can peer at the night sky through the Department’s balcony and dome telescopes, or watch a planetarium show run live by astronomer. Admission to the tour is free. Seating for the lecture is on a first-come, first-served basis (doors open ten minutes before the start of the lecture), and the telescope observing is walk-in.

Registration for this AstroTour’s planetarium shows will begin at Noon on Thursday February 26th using the following link:
http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/astrotours/?page_id=644