SkyGazer February 15 meeting

SkyGazer Sunday, February 15 meeting

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Desert View Theater, 39900 S Clubhouse Dr.

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The Earth's Spin-up and the Leap Second by Paul Gabor, Vice Director, Vatican Observatory

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Paul Gabor has been involved in the leap second debate for 15 years. The leap second started out as an astronomical thing. Believe it or not, it has to do with solar eclipses and the Babylonians. Even the most recent part about the Earth's spin-up is an astronomical thing because Earth's rotation and orientation in space is monitored by astronomers. Nobody, including the geoscientists, has a hard scientific explanation as to what is causing the spin-up. Just some hand-waving. That might be disappointing to the audience but an interesting discussion point.

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Gabor has a background in particle physics. He became a Jesuit in 1995 and was ordained in 2004. He holds a PhD in astrophysics from the University of Paris (Saclay), joining the Vatican Observatory in 2010. He has been based in Tucson since 2011. He was named Vice Director in 2012, his main responsibility being the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT). An overhaul of VATT's control system is due to be completed in June 2024. Paul teaches ASTR320 History and Philosophy of Astronomical Thought.