Lecture series in the planetarium at the Garching research campus
ESO Supernova: Kosmisches Kino
Event location
Campus Garching
Public event
Target audience
publically
Presenter
Dr. Stefan Heigl
In this Kosmisches Kino, Stefan Heigl from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich (LMU) takes us on a journey to the cradle of stars. He shows us how bright stars emerge from dark gas clouds and provides an overview of the most important processes in the early life of stars.
This event is in German.
The interstellar medium - the matter between the stars in our galaxy - is in constant flux. Diffuse, hot gas cools and condenses into denser regions of molecular gas and dust, known as molecular clouds. Gravity, turbulence, and external influences can cause parts of these clouds to collapse and become even more dense. When the density in certain regions is high enough, star formation begins. This process creates a disc of gas and dust around the young star, in which planets can later form. Over the course of a star's life, the material is released back into the surrounding medium by winds, radiation, and ultimately a supernova explosion, allowing the cycle to begin again.
Observations show that stars primarily form in elongated structures of dense gas - called filaments. There is also evidence that young protostars can accrete mass directly from this gas-rich environment. How does this accretion influence the collapse of the gas? And does the environment play a role in the formation of planets?
Further events
- 7/10/2025, 7 p.m. – Catarina Aydar (MPE) about supermassive black holes
- August – summer break
- 9/11/2025, 7 p.m. – Dr Francesca Capel (MPP) about astroparticles
- 10/9/2025, 7 p.m. – Dr. David Cont (LMU) about exoplanets
- 11/13/2025, 7 p.m. – Dr. Asmita Bhandare (LMU) about TBA
- 12/11/2025, 7 p.m. – Sophie Vogt (LMU) about TBA
Additional information
How to find us
- Location: Planetarium of the ESO Supernova, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85748 Garching
- GPS coordinates: 48° 15' 36.90" N; 11° 40' 15.16" E
The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Center is located 2 km northeast of Garching and 15 km northeast of Munich on the grounds of the research center.
