The Secret Lives of Variable Stars

Nerd Night

Bend, OR
December 19, 2023
5:30pm - 7:30pm Pacific
Add to calendar

This event is past.

For this week's Nerd Night, we have a very special science presentation: The Secret Lives of Variable Stars, presented by Erika Dunning! The Pour House Grill, 61276 S Hwy 97 in Bend, starting at 5:30pm.

From the demon star to the largest stars in the universe, uncover what makes stars some of the most enigmatic cosmic neighbors. Learn how some stars grow and shrink and how astronomers can use them to measure distance. See how some stars can burn even after they’ve died—sometimes resulting in a cataclysmic explosion.

Erika Dunning is a graduate student and faculty at San Diego State University’s astronomy program where she studies circumbinary planets. Outside of school, Erika enjoys spending time with her dogs and horses, going for trail rides, and creating ceramics.

Erika formerly gave the astronomy talks at the Sunriver Observatory, where this one was a particular favorite!