"Planetary Smashups: From the Moon’s Origin to the Dino’s Demise" Professor H. J. Melosh

Dear all

This is an announcement of a seminar hosted by Fluid Mechanics Unit.

Date :      January 17^th (Tue), 2017

Time:      3:00pm – 4:00pm

Venue:    C210, Seminar room
Speaker:  Professor H. J. Melosh
                        (Distinguished Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science, Purdue University USA)

Title: Planetary Smashups:  From the Moon’s Origin to the Dino’s Demise

Abstract:

Collisions with asteroids and comets used to be the stuff of science fiction.  However, starting with the Apollo missions’ revelations about our Moon, it has gradually dawned on the scientific world that collisions between objects from microscopic to planetary dominated nearly every aspect of our planetary system’s birth.  Long after the birth of our planet, a rare asteroid impact initiated the extinction of the dinosaurs.  As recently as Feb. 15, 2013 the atmospheric disintegration of a building-sized space rock terrified residents of the city of Chelyabinsk, Siberia.  Impacts on Mars have sent us samples of that planet in the form of meteorites and just might have once transferred living organisms between our two planets. Modern computer models are now revealing just what happens when an irresistible force—a speeding asteroid—meets an immovable object—the Earth, Mars or the Moon.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the seminar.