The 2006 Romer Lecture
Dr. Michael Paesler

Thursday, April 13^th, 2006, 8:00 p.m. Hepburn Auditorium

"The Blue Moon, Einstein, and Mie"

  Under certain atmospheric conditions, the sun or moon may take on a decidedly blue hue, due to an optical effect called Mie scattering (rather than the more common Rayleigh scattering), involving motion of dust in the air. Einstein in 1905 developed the theory of Brownian motion which describes just such movement. His work thus leads one to an explanation of the blue moon. In this talk Dr. Paesler will discuss and demonstrate just how this occurs.

  Dr. Paesler is Head of the Physics Deptartment at North Carolina State University, a Fellow of the American Physics Society, member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and the NC State Academy of Outstanding Teachers.

  The public lecture is free and suitable for all ages. The Auditorium is located in Hepburn Hall (see entry #8 on this campus map). For more information, please contact the SLU Physics Deptartment (315) 229-5491.