The benefits of new technology in the field of astronomy will be the subject of a seminar tonight in the Scheman Building.

The seminar, “To the Edge of the Universe: New Telescopes, New Tools and New Discoveries,” will be held tonight at 7 in Benton Auditorium. It’s free and open to the public.

It is part of Iowa State’s yearlong celebration of technology and is being held in conjunction with the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair.

Curt Struck, professor of physics and astronomy, said the focus of the seminar will be advances in astronomical discoveries attributed to new technology.

“We are undergoing a revolution in astronomy because of the new technologies that have become available to us,” Struck said.

Presenters at the seminar will include Struck and ISU astronomers Phil Appleton and Steve Kawaler.

Struck said his part of the seminar will study the use of computer models in examining the evolution of stars, galaxies and the universe.

“Computer modeling has been around for a while, but up until the last decade or two, it’s been limited by the ability of computers,” he said. “Today we have faster, better computers, and we can do much more.”

Appleton, associate professor of physics and astronomy, will make his presentation via telephone from Arizona, where he is observing the skies at Kitt Peak Observatory, Struck said.

“Phil Appleton does observational astronomy, and he will talk about the observations and discoveries he is making at the observatory,” he said.

Kawaler, professor of physics and astronomy, will speak about a kind of astronomical observation unlike what Struck and Appleton specialize in.

“There’s another way we’re learning about astronomical aspects for which imaging does not help,” Kawaler said. “For example, stars are too small to learn much about them through even the biggest telescopes.”

Kawaler said he studies stars as a function of time instead of directly observing them. The complicated process allows him to discover what stars are made of on their surfaces and inside their cores.

“We can also do things like measuring the vibrations of stars and then turning them into sounds, so you can actually listen to the movement of the stars,” he said.

Struck said the seminar will also take a look at images from the Hubble Space Telescope and discuss what other advances are being made to study the skies beyond the ability of the Hubble.

Steve Herrnstadt, associate professor of art and design, will moderate the seminar. Struck said Herrnstadt, who specializes in visualization, will present an introduction that will cover the correlation found in imaging technologies from telescopes to microscopes.

Kawaler said he hopes people attending the seminar will leave with an understanding of the new astronomical discoveries being made.

“I just hope they’ll be able to capture an idea of all the new discoveries we’ve been making with these cool new toys,” he said. “The technology is creating stunning and fabulous images, and it helps us study the immense mysteries of the universe.”