Observatory Lecture: The Colors of Galaxies

How do galaxies grow and change over time, and how can we tell from just a few lines of light? We are pleased to host RIT astrophysicist and PhD candidate Sadie Coffin for her presentation, **"The Many Colors of Galaxies: YOU Can Help NASA Decode the Cosmos."** Coffin will explain how the unique lines in galaxy spectra serve as records of the Universe’s history, acting as a cosmic time machine to track how distant galaxies interact, evolve, and form stars over deep time.

Coffin's doctoral research bridges the gap between complex galaxy spectroscopy and public participatory science through *Redshift Wrangler*, a NASA-funded project she designed and leads. The presentation will explore how combining professional astronomical research with volunteer classifications helps map distant galaxy systems, illustrating why astronomers rely on this collaboration to accelerate major discoveries in astronomy.

This interactive session will be broadcast on our big screen at the Martz-Kohl Observatory and is also available to join online via Zoom. We encourage you to join us in person at the observatory to virtually meet our speaker and participate in our always-lively Q&A session following the talk. If the weather permits, we will conclude the evening with guided tours and viewing opportunities through our premier telescopes. Please remember to dress for the elements; while our classroom is heated for your comfort, the observatory domes are not. For more information and the Zoom link, please visit: martzobservatory.org