Death From The Skies!

Phil Plait

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7:30 P.M. at the Virginia Air and Space Center in downtown Hampton, Virginia

Abstract

Asteroid impacts! Cometary debris! Extinction level events! These are the topics covered in this scientifically-based but fun look at giant impacts from cosmic objects. Phil Plait talks about how these events have shaped our history, how they may do so again, and why Hollywood always seems to get them wrong. And lest you think it’s all doom and gloom, Plait goes into details on how we might prevent the next great impact from ruining our whole day.

Speaker

After earning his doctorate in astronomy at the University of Virginia, Dr. Phil Plait worked as a NASA contractor at the Goddard Space Flight Center, working with the Hubble Space Telescope. Dr. Plait began a career in public outreach and education with the Bad Astronomy website and blog, debunking bad science and popular misconceptions. He is host of the ‘Crash Course Astronomy’ video series from PBS and head science writer for Bill Nye’s new TV show which will screen on Netflix in spring 2017.