es2528 — Organisation Release
Mysterious messengers: What are cosmic rays and where do they come from?
Kosmisches Kino continues on 18 September
11 August 2025
After a short summer break, Kosmisches Kino is back on 18 September. Francesca Capel from the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) takes us on a journey into the world of the most accomplished space travellers: cosmic particles. This English-language event starts on 18 September at 19:00 in the ESO Supernova. Tickets cost 6.50 Euro each and can be booked online.
Our planet is constantly bombarded by tiny, energetic particles called cosmic rays. They spark the beautiful auroras we see in the northern and southern polar regions. However, cosmic rays can also disrupt satellites and pose major challenges for human space exploration. The search for cosmic rays at ever-higher energies shows that they are becoming increasingly rare - and increasingly mysterious. To catch these extremely energetic and elusive messengers from outer space, scientists use the Earth’s atmosphere as a giant particle detector. Even then, tracing them back to their cosmic origins remains one of astronomy’s greatest puzzles.
In this talk, we’ll explore cosmic rays across a vast range of energies, and dive into the quest to find the origins of the most energetic particles ever detected in the Universe.
Since this is a live talk, there will be no translation available. The ESO Supernova will remain open until the start of the event for visitors, who can explore the exhibition at any time or watch a planetarium show beforehand.
More information
What is Kosmisches Kino?
Kosmisches Kino (Cosmic Cinema) takes visitors into the breathtaking depths of space. Researchers from the ORIGINS Cluster of Excellence will accompany you on your journey through the cosmos with selected excerpts from planetarium films and an associated lecture.
Sit back and marvel. Want to know more? Just ask! Kosmisches Kino events take place under the dome of the planetarium. They offer all visitors, no prior knowledge required, an atmospheric insight into the world of research and provide you with new perspectives. At the end of the event, the researchers answer questions from the audience.
The lecture series Kosmisches Kino is a collaboration between ESO and the ORIGINS Cluster of Excellence and presents current research topics. The ORIGINS Excellence Cluster combines astrophysics, particle physics and biophysics to investigate the formation of the universe and the origin of life. The lectures address exciting questions that current research is investigating: Is there a common thread connecting the Big Bang with the origin of life? How do you measure radiation from space and its effect on humans? Where and how do planets and stars form? What is Dark Matter? What are the building blocks of life on Earth and do they exist elsewhere in space? These and many other questions will be addressed over the course of the event series.
Admission to the approximately one-hour-long evening event with planetarium visualisations, a live lecture and open discussion costs 6.50 Euros per person. Events are aimed at people aged 12 years and over.
Links
- Book your tickets for Mysterious messengers: What are cosmic rays and where do they come from?
- ESO Supernova planetarium programme
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Contacts
ESO Supernova Planetarium & Besucherzentrum
Garching bei München, DE
Tel: 08932006900
Email: supernova@eso.org
About the Release
| Release No.: | es2528 |
