SFA
Physics, Astronomy and Engineering News
March 2, 2004

Seminar for Thursday

Jay Pulliam, Research Scientist
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1991)
A.B., Cornell University (1983)
Title: "EarthScope"

Speakers: Jay Pulliam, Institute for Geophysics, UT Austin

Time: 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 4th

Place: Science Room 334

Earthscope is a bold undertaking to apply modern observational, analytical and telecommunications technologies to investigate the structure and evolution of the North American continent and the physical processes controlling earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. EarthScope will provide a foundation for fundamental and applied research throughout the United States that will contribute to the mitigation of risks from geological hazards, the development of natural resources, and the public's understanding of the dynamic Earth.

Note: Dr. Pulliam will be installing an USGS seismographic station at the SFA Observatory as part of the Texas Regional Seismic Network.

The department has weekly seminars on most Thursdays at 4:00 PM. All students and faculty are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served before the seminars. Here is a list of our future seminars future seminars: http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/seminar.html.

Physics Olympics - Can you help?

Every spring, local high school students gather at the SFA campus to engage in friendly competitions with physics themes. The Society of Physics Students and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stephen F. Austin State University will be holding a Physics Olympics for area high school students on the SFASU campus on Saturday, March 6, 2004.

We could use some student help at the Physics Olympics. If you can help, then please come to the SPS meeting below. You are also welcome to just show up and watch these events.

SPS Meeting for Students

There will be a meeting of the Society of Physics Students on Thursday at 5:00 pm in room 318. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served. To find out how to become a member of this student organization, come to this meeting or see the SPS advisor, Mr. Ali Piran.

Contributors Links

See Dr. Markworth in "FOREVER PLAID"
http://www.geocities.com/lampliteplayhouse/Plaid.html

Interactive Flash Animation by Ryan Brady (SFA Alumnus)
http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/img/orbiter.html

Long John Silver's Eyes Martian Landscape for Building Sites
http://www.ljsilvers.com/press/opportunity.htm

Dusting and drilling continue on Mars
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4202901/

Black hole seen ripping star apart
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/02/18/shc.blackhole.star/index.html
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2004/rxj1242/

Scientists Watch "Movie" Of Neutron Star Explosion In Real-Time
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2004/0220stardisk.html

Scientists squeeze less time into an instant
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/73/35874.html

Little known Texas facts
http://www.texascoffeetraders.com/austin_calendar.htm

Two simultaneous 'naked-eye' comets expected
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0402/27comets/

Number Sense Examples (K-12 UIL)
http://www.academicmeet.com/cgi-bin/sample.cgi

Research Experience for Undergraduates
http://www.physics.unlv.edu/reu/

NASA's Cassini spacecraft returns a new postcard as it approaches the ringed planet.
http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1192_1.asp

Radio Storms on Jupiter
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/20feb_radiostorms.htm?list942833
http://www.thursdaysclassroom.com/16sep99/sounds4.html

This spectacular “blue marble” image is the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/BlueMarble_Closeup.html

Resource for Employment in Academia
http://www.academickeys.com/

Dark Energy
http://space.com/scienceastronomy/dark_energy_040220.html

Oh no! (queue danger music)

Thanks to Dr. Norman Markworth, Andy Wagers, Steve Scurlock, Tommy Gober, Kris Byboth, Chris Dahl, and others for the links and information above. Feel free to send any interesting links that you find. This email message is sent to students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the department. If you would like to be removed from the emailing list or are getting multiple copies of these newsletters, then feel free to reply to this message with your request.

Clear skies,
Dan Bruton
astro@sfasu.edu