July 21st Meeting - It's a Monday.

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Our next meeting will be on Monday 21st July and will start at 6:30pm. This months guest speaker is Josh Barker from the National Space Centre in Leicester. Josh will be talking about the formation of our Solar System and Near Earth Objects.

 

Biography:
From a young age Josh has pursued an insatiable interest in space and science. This led him to undertake a Masters degree in Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Leicester. As part of his degree he focussed on understanding the complexities of the universe. His specialist research projects involved searching for Supermassive Black holes in Galaxies, Investigating the formation of the solar system and looking for planets around dying stars.
Following his degree Josh joined the Education Team and the National Space Centre. As part of this role he was able to use his knowledge and enthusiasm to inspire and educate others about space, leading children and adults alike in workshops, demonstrations and simulated space missions. During his time at the National Space Centre, Josh has also been involved in work to monitor Potentially hazardous asteroids in space for the UK government, acted as science advisor on nationwide science projects and become one of the centres key science communicators working with local and national media. Josh continues to look for exciting opportunities to develop his own and others knowledge and enjoyment of space.

 

If the weather is kind we shall have chance for some Solar observing before the talk and afterwards there will be a little something extra..... we will be making a Comet!

 

Refreshments from 6:15pm all welcome, non members are welcome with a suggested donation of £2 towards refreshments etc.

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What a scorcher!

 

Tonight's meeting was very well attended yet again. Before the talk there was a chance to have a look at our star the Sun both outside through Steve Ibbotson's PST and the schools Double stacked Solarmax Ha telescope. Both offered some great views on what was a comparatively quiet day. The large sunspot group is currently around the back side but there were many prominence's and filaments to be seen.

 

Josh Barker from the National Space center then gave an interesting talk on the formation of the solar system and in particular focusing on Near Earth Objects. He covered the various types such as Asteroids and Comets, where they were "made" and where they come from (and indeed go to). Josh also covered such things as how scientists and astronomers classify them by the threat they might pose to Earth. He then went on to discuss some of the ways in which we might look to avoid catastrophe.  Also Mike displayed an impact Bracia from a 24km wide crater in France.

 

After the talk Josh fielded so interesting questions before Miss Ellender and Mike made a "comic comet". Comic due mostly to Mike's "help".

 

If you would like to help hunt for asteroids why not have a look here: http://www.asteroidzoo.org  Asteroid Zoo is a citizen project to enable members of the public to help search through the masses of data available in order to maybe spot an asteroid.

 

A reminder there is no meeting next month. Our next meeting is on Sept 25th when Dan Brown from Nottingham Trent University will be talking to us about Light Pollution amongst other things. Usual time and place 6:30pm with refreshments from 6:15pm