Welcome to the greatest science talks in Baton Rouge!

We offer one free event monthly, each featuring two astronomy related talks. Our events are in-person at the Varsity Theatre and live-streamed on YouTube. Astronomy on Tap – Baton Rouge is organized by several LSU graduate students, post docs, and faculty members.

Towards Ground Motion Estimation Model Development for Mars

Dewan Mohammad Enamul Haque, Planetary Science Lab, LSU G&GAbstract: Based on Insight findings, Martian seismology primarily focuses on exploring seismicity and interior structure. Less attention is given to ground motion estimation model development and site amplification estimation. However, ground motion estimation is essential to assess the engineering demand for near-future human settlement-related infrastructure design. We aim to develop ground motion estimation models for Marsquakes and impact events separately. In this context, I will discuss the key findings from ground motion predictor variables derivation for the selected large events (Marsquakes and impacts) and how to integrate these findings into the ground motion model development.

Investigating Phosphate and Iron-bearing Carbonatite Weathering Analogous to Mars

Amaya Wanniarachchi, Graduate Student, G&G

This study explores the transformation of phosphate and iron-bearing carbonatites, using samples from Eppawala, Sri Lanka, as a window into these processes on Earth. We aim to uncover the secrets hidden in these rocks through three main goals: identifying secondary phosphate minerals, understanding the factors behind their weathering, and drawing connections to potential Martian weathering processes. We hope to unravel the mysteries of these geological transformations by employing various experimental techniques. Our findings promise to enrich our understanding of both Earth and Mars, offering valuable insights into how rocks evolve and weather on two different celestial bodies.