Caltech Astronomy Public Lecture Series - Telescopes at the South Pole - Abby Crites - 04/15/2016

A first-hand account of the unique telescope operating at the South Pole for studying leftover radiation from the Big Bang. Lecture: 02:10; Lecture Q&A: 24:47; Panel Q&A: 31:33 Date: April 15, 2016 Lecturer: Dr. Abby Crites Title: Astronomy from the Bottom of the Earth: Telescopes at the South Pole Abstract: The South Pole represents a unique environment for studying the evolution of the Universe. Its extreme cold, dark skies, and isolation from humans optimize it for certain types of instruments and studies. I will present my experiences working at the Pole on the South Pole Telescope, an instrument designed to investigate the nature of the Big Bang. Additionally, I'll discuss other science efforts at the Pole, including IceCube, a photodetector array embedded in the ice used to study neutrinos. Event Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143414768@N07/sets/72157699960856345 Echo360 Two-Pane Video Stream: https://echo360.org/section/df8345ec-7d0c-4dc3-b450-65a423c24650/public Thumbnail Image Credit: South Pole Telescope