Astronomical happenings from the past and the birthdays of astronomers past and present. 19th February 1787 The first observation is made with the Great Forty-Foot telescope. Built by William Herschel he pointed the then incomplete telescope towards the Orion nebula. The reflecting telescope was constructed by Herschel with the assistance of his sister Caroline Herschel between 1785 and 1789 and was located on the grounds of Herschel's house in England. It was paid for b

Presented by Paul Hancock Monday 7th February 2022, 6:30 to 8pm Dr Paul Hancock will explain how radio telescopes collect information invisible to the human eye using techniques very different from optical astronomy. Optical telescopes can rely on physical lenses to collect and focus light and create images. Sadly there is no physical equivalent of a radio lens, and so the focusing and imaging of the radio light must be done virtually by a computer. The new generation

Presented by Prof Malcolm Jackson, Monday 6 June 2022, 6:30pm. The University of Liverpool has a new collaboration with the UK Space Agency and Kayser Space Ltd to investigate skeletal muscle ageing in microgravity, with experiments to take place on the International Space Station (ISS). We will find out more about this program, its ambitions and methods from Professor Jackson. Photograph: Selfie Alexander Gerst, courtesy ESA Bio Malcolm Jackson has devoted his working lif

Presented by Glen Nagle from the NASA’s Deep Space Network station in Canberra, Monday 4th July, 6:30pm Glen Nagle will share an update on the James Webb Space Telescope and the science that it will deliver: “Webb is literally a game-changer in the way we will ‘see’ the universe, from its earliest beginnings as the galaxies formed, to the way that new planetary systems are forming today. It could unlock the story of life in space.” Glen will also touch on the flotilla of robo

Monday 4 April, 6:30pm start for 7pm Keynote. The First Astronomers book is groundbreaking in both its popularity and storytelling. In this discussion we will find out from Associate Professor Duane Hamacher about how he has worked closely with Indigenous knowledge holders and Elders including Ghillar Michael Anderson, John Barsa, David Bocun, Ron Day, Segar Passi and Alo Tapin OAM to prepare this groundbreaking book. We will find out how Indigenous cultures have preserved t

Monday 7 March, 2022 at 6:30pm Dr Nick Lomb is an astronomer whose career as Curator of astronomy, timekeeping, navigation, meteorology, surveying and the history of Sydney Observatory for the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences led him to be a high profile science communicator for over thirty years. Dr Lomb curated many exhibitions, was called upon for media appearances and wrote several publications including the annual Australasian Sky Guide. The Australasian Sky Guide has