April 2, 2015
Public talk April 9 looks back at astronomy department’s 50 years
The UW Astronomy Department celebrates its 50th anniversary this school year. Julie Lutz, research professor emeritus of astronomy, will review that history in a free public talk at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in the Physics/Astronomy Auditorium.
The astronomy department was formed in 1965 by George Wallerstein, Paul Hodge and Theodor Jacobson, for whom a UW observatory is named. At the time, NASA’s Gemini program was underway, Sputnik 1 was seven years in the past and the moon landing lay four years ahead.
“Since that time the department has developed vibrant graduate and undergraduate programs, participated in many collaborations to build facilities and to carry out multiwavelength and multidisciplinary astronomical research programs, gained considerable national and international recognition and developed strong outreach programs,” Lutz wrote in advance notes for her talk, titled “Fifty Years of UW Astronomy: 1965-2015.”
She added, “Needless to say, there has been a lot of fun (and a few mishaps) to be had along the way. This presentation will review some highlights of UW astronomy’s past and present.”
Visit online to learn more about the astronomy department’s 50th anniversary, which will include lectures and even an astronomy-themed concert in the fall.
