SLAS Regular Meeting
Friday, July 18, 2014 7:30pm
McDonnell Hall, Washington University

How Planets Are Built

by

Logan Brown

Scientists interested in the origin of Earth and the other planets study regions where new solar systems are forming. The planet-building process is occur-ring throughout the Milky Way galaxy in much the same way as it did about 4.6 billion years ago, when our sun and its planets formed. Logan Brown will explain how astronomers observe young stars, still surrounded by the remnants of the huge clouds of dust and gas from which they condensed. They search within the disk-shaped structures of protostars for traces of water and other chemicals necessary for life. Of particular interest to Mr. Brown is the problem of how planets such as the Earth obtained their water and other volatiles.

Logan Brown is a Doctoral candidate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of UMSL. A native of southeastern Wisconsin, he has come to UMSL to study planetary system formation and early evolution. His research is focused on the chemistry of protoplanetary disks of dust and gas.

Upcoming meetings:
September - Dr. Jack Fishman (SLU) and Dr. William Smith (WU) - Solar impact on earth's weather-two opposing viewpoints

Meeting Agenda

Welcome

Introduction of Officers

Logan Brown

Announcements and Star Parties