Less than a century ago, human instruments first ventured onto the dark shores of space. Fueled by scientific curiosity, nationalistic fervor, and technological innovation, we have since expanded our presence in space at an unprecedented rate. In the process, have we adversely impacted our local space environment? Where do all of our retired rockets and dead satellites end up? Does “space junk” threaten the survival of astronauts or future missions? Join me as we explore our planet’s “orbital graveyard”. We will begin by tracing the evolution of human spacecraft and instrumentation, delve into its waste products, and finally explore sustainable paths forward.

James Negus is a lead facilitator for Science Under the Dome and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in astrophysics at the University of Colorado Boulder. He earned his B.A. in physics, with a specialization in astrophysics, from the University of Chicago in 2013. At CU, he analyzes the properties of Active Galactic Nuclei, which are supermassive black holes that consume nearby matter! In his spare time, he enjoys stargazing, riding his motorcycles, and volunteering at the Fiske Planetarium. He has also authored two books - Mysteries of Space: Black Holes Explained and Mysteries of Space: Supernovas Explained.

If you have any additional questions, comments, or want to find out more about upcoming talks, contact us at: scienceunderthedome@colorado.edu

This virtual series made possible with the support from the CU Office of Outreach and Engagement.

Music: The Last Days Of Gravity - Younger Brother

We would like to acknowledge:
University of Colorado Boulder, APS Department
SkySkan Inc. and their amazing software DigitalSky2 that made this possible.

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Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.

Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/teamfiske

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Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00:00
A Crowded Orbit: 0:02:44
Q&A: 0:58:06