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Astronomy Open Night

Event Name Astronomy Open Night
Start Date 18th May 2013 5:30pm
End Date 18th May 2013 9:00pm
Duration 3 hours and 30 minutes
Description

Astronomy Open Night

Macquarie University astronomers and physicists invite you to the Astronomy Open Night. At this entertaining and informative public event you can view the night sky through telescopes, observe star shows in the planetarium, see displays by astronomical institutions and amateur societies, and participate in fun activities for children of all ages. BBQ and refreshments for sale.

Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) - The next generation of monster optical/infrared telescopes 

Imagine a telescope two to three times larger than the biggest optical or infrared ground-based telescopes in existence. An Extremely Large Telescope (ELTs) is so powerful it could see the first stars forming in the universe billions of years ago and search out Earth-like planets around nearby stars for signs of life. In his talk, Professor Warrick Couch, newly appointed Director of the Australian Astronomical Observatory, This talk will describe current efforts to design and build such monster telescopes, including the exciting 25m Giant Magellan Telescope Project which Australia is involved in and which promises to provide its astronomers with the deepest views of the universe ever seen. 

To celebrate 25 Years of Astronomy Open Night, the MQ Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics Research Centre is pleased to present a series of short talks given by our astronomers. These talks are aimed at the general public and amateur astronomers and present the diverse range of interests that are present in our growing Astronomy Department. 

Professor Couch was previously Director of the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. He is an optical astronomer with research interests in galaxy evolution and cosmology and was Australia's Extremely Large Telescope Project Scientist 2005 – 2007.

Where: Building E7B, Central Courtyard, Macquarie University, North Ryde. See campus map for location
Date/Time: Saturday 18th May, 5.30pm – 9pm
Tickets: Can be purchased at the door or online. 
Talks/times:

  1. Astronomy at MQ - A New Era, Speaker: Professor Quentin Parker, 5.30-5.40pm
  2. The Black Hole at the Centre of the Galaxy, Speaker: James Tocknell, 5.40-5.55pm
  3. The Chelyabinsk Meteor Explosion, Speaker: Professor Mark Wardle, 5.55-6.10pm
  4. Mars, Speaker: Elaine Hyde, 6.10-6.25pm
  5. Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) - The next generation of monster optical/infrared telescopes, Speaker: Professor Warrick Couch, 6.30-7.30pm
  6. Aboriginal Astronomy, Bob Fuller, 7.40-8.10pm
  7. Australian Galactic Archaeology, Arik Mitchang, 8.10-8.25pm
  8. Extrasolar Planets, Speaker: Dr Joao Bento, 8.25-8.40pm
  9. Night in the Life of an Astronomer, Dr Lee Spitler, 8.40-8.55pm

Cost: $15 adults, $5 child, $35 family
Parking: Free parking campus-wide from 5pm (excludes disabled and special permit parking bays)