Science Club explores the expanding universe

The Sisters Science Club will launch their  monthly community seminar series, "Big Ideas in Science," on Monday, December 12, at 11 a.m. in the community room of the Sisters Public Library.

Each session will begin with a 30-minute DVD on the subject. The first presentation is on "The Expanding Universe." Jim Hammond will be the moderator for the discussion and audience participation that follows.

Questions to be discussed include: How do we know the universe is expanding? What was "The Big Bang"? What was Einstein's biggest blunder?

The discussion will begin with a Teaching Company lecture entitled "Hubble's View of Galaxies Near and Far." The Hubble's image of the nearby galaxy NGC 3370 includes many faint galaxies in the background, exemplifying the telescope's mission to establish an accurate distance scale to galaxies near and far - along with the related expansion rate of the universe. Hubble's success has led to the concept of dark energy.

The lecture is aimed at a general audience and the discussion will be facilitated to enable any curious person to participate and ask questions. Those attending may bring sack lunches and beverages if desired.