BIBENDUM EVENT

Thursday 14 November 2013

 

 

This was such a fun evening!

After my presentation at the BBC's Sky at Night National Astronomy Festival 2013 at the Herstmonceux Science Centre and Observatory, I was approached by double BAFTA Award winning television presenter, Neil Buchanan, to give a private presentation to a small group of astronomy enthusiasts.  What a terrific night!  The Herstmonceux 'Space Cadets', as they are known, are a fabulous bunch of people who genuinely love astronomy and meet regularly to study, share their passion and enjoy the night sky.  I knew from Neil's intro that the evening would be informal which enabled me to share my earlier Winchester Planetarium lecture, 'The Wonder of the Universe' in a more relaxed, leisurely manner ... which seemed to hit all the right notes.  After a short break, we then naturally slipped into the second half which took the format of a question and answer session, followed by lively open discussion and debate which proved very diverse, interesting and always laced with copious laughter. 

It was just so lovely to be with fellow astronomy enthusiasts, who know and love their subject, in a venue that was equally warm and welcoming.  A really great night.  Thank you Neil.  Thank you Sarah Morgan for getting it organised and making me feel so welcome.  And thank you to everyone who turned up to help make this a genuinely unforgettable event.

 



UCKFIELD 105FM RADIO

Friday 8 November 2013

 

Feel free to tune in to my monthly radio show where I join presenter Tony Williams to discuss Comet ISON, the Andromeda Galaxy, the conjunction of Saturn and Mercury and the Winter constellations.  Also shared is my presentation at the INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium at Winchester where significant sums for Cancer Research UK were raised.

Don't forget my next appearance at BIBENDUM in Eastbourne

on Thursday 14 November at 7.30pm. 
See below for booking details.

 

 

Listen in by clicking the Uckfield 105FM icon at left.



ASTRONOMY PRESENTATION

The Wonder of the Universe

7.30pm

Thursday 14 November 2013

at the

Bibendum Bar and Bistro

Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex

 

 

Entrance fee: £10.00

Seating limited. 

A one-hour presentation followed by discussion
about the 'bigger picture'.

If interested in coming along, please advise Sarah Morgan (sarah4glebe@hotmail.co.uk)
to ensure a seat is made available.

INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium

Winchester

Thursday 17th October 2013

 

INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium at Winchester

 

Though known as an author, speaker and broadcaster on astronomy, I have another life working for the British Horseracing Authority, and this astronomy presentation was instigated by a BHA Disciplinary Panel Steward.  Ordinarily our paths would cross at Ascot or Epsom Racecourse where discussions about astronomy were considered somewhat off the rails.

 

In my 'other life' at Ascot Racecourse. 

Photo credit: Matthew Webb

 

Not so this night, for the great and good of British horseracing diverted from the running rails and took a journey onto the cosmic racecourse, from the realms of the very small to the truly astronomically immense.  Following a champagne reception, the packed auditorium darkened and for an hour all was eerily quiet as we took our voyage.  I think it was shock!  But the feedback was amazing and the questions keep on coming ... but not in a planetarium environment ... on racecourses throughout the south of England!  How's that for getting off the rails? 

The purpose of the evening was to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and in this we exceeded the target.  Can't help but smile!



NEW TITLE

 

 

I am delighted to announce the publication of my second book:

 

CELESTIAL EXTRA TEXTURE

 

with images by internationally acclaimed photographer of animals, Tim Flach, and world-renowned astro-photographer, Nik Szymanek, this book tells a deeply personal true story, introducing astronomy for anyone not interested in astronomy and horses ... for anyone not interested in horses. 

 

Described as 'deeply moving' by Tim Flach, this is most assuredly a departure from the 'usual' books about astronomy and sets out to dig the subject into life not set it apart.  It is a story that sits on several shelves ... as do we.

 

Available through Amazon Kindle



ASTRONOMY PRESENTATION

to raise funds for

Multiple Sclerosis
The Birley Centre, Eastbourne

Tuesday 23rd October 2012

Don't be fooled by the almost empty front row!  The screen was so large the audience elected to sit a little further back as well as fill the upper balcony!  What a night it was!  A large enthusiastic crowd joined me to share a journey into our Star and other stars 'out there', from birth to life and subsequent demise.  After an hour we reached the interval, whereby twenty minutes later, we journeyed onward for another hour, taking in dimension and perspective on the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn before exiting the Solar System and heading into the 'great beyond' ... and beyond ... and beyond.  The Milky Way Galaxy, with the lightyear intimately explained, was soon forsaken for the Local Group, clusters and superclusters of galaxies and the entire cosmic web thus far known.  I had feared my audience might run for the proverbial trees at half-time!  Not a bit of it!  With the aid of some gorgeous images from NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope and the magical photography of ace astro-imager Nik Szymanek, we soaked up a wondrous voyage - and raised SIGNIFICANT funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society Eastbourne and South Wealden Branch - a cause very dear to my heart.

A big thank you to Toni and Ray Morgan - it was their idea and it went down a storm!  A big thank you to Peter Austin, Chairman of the Society, who worked equally hard behind the scenes to pull it off on the night.  Also rallying the troops was Sally Goldrick - bless you for all that you did when it could not have been an easy task.  Thank you to Nik - whose images, offered free of charge, received the greatest gasps of delight.  Thank you to Hal, my technician, who pulled out all the cosmological stops and ensured we journeyed without a hitch.  Thanks to Simon and Elena for capturing a couple of moments of that journey on their iPhone and for travelling a great terrestrial distance to be with me!  And an enormous thank you to everyone else for making the effort, for staying the course and for really making a difference.  It was a night to remember.  Thank you all.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION

in aid of

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

EASTBOURNE and SOUTH WEALDEN BRANCH

Tuesday 23rd October 2012
7.30pm
The Birley Centre
Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JY
Tickets: £6.00 adult, £4.00 children
Available from The MS Centre, Map House
34-36 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UT
Mon-Fri 10.00am to 3.00pm
Tel: 01323 439447

UCKFIELD FM RADIO SHOW

with

GARY KING

Tuesday 7th August 2012

My usual partner-in-crime, Radio DJ, Jon Royal, was unable to make this month's show, so instead of Uckfield FM's Royal's Astronomer, I became King's Astronomer!

Feel free to listen here (click here) to our edited broadcast where we shared NASA's Curiosity rover's historic landing on Mars and the upcoming Perseid Meteor Shower ... and where I mistakenly described Curiosity as being about the size of bus when what I meant to say was that the rover itself is around the size of a small mini-bus ... or a Mini car, if you prefer. 

Keep looking up! 



ASTRONOMY MANUAL off to China

Well, after three English version re-prints, welcome to the Chinese one, published by one of the largest publishers in China.  Wow!  As always, an enormous thank you to Haynes Publishing and all those very kind and generous people who enabled me to make this wonderful journey.

TALK WITH SIR PATRICK MOORE

Many months ago I was invited to give an astronomy presentation as part of the Portsmouth Festivities Space City Event. The extravaganza takes place over an eleven-day period in June each year at various locations in Portsmouth and focuses on music and arts, cosmology, astronomy, space technology and, latterly, science fiction. But not only was I asked to give a presentation ... I was asked if I would "mind" Sir Patrick Moore joining me on stage. Would I mind? I took a nanosecond to consider and replied a resounding, "No, not at all!"

So, as surreal as it sounds, on the afternoon of Saturday 25th June I 'stepped up to the plate' at Portsmouth Grammar School before a capacity audience; the organisers switched the venue last-minute since they'd sold so many tickets. I gave a one-hour presentation, explaining how and why I became interested in astronomy, as well as offering all the reasons why I hadn't for so long. Then Sir Patrick joined me for a half-hour Q&A session. What an indescribable honour. I did have to pinch myself several times as I glanced to my left. Sir Patrick was as fabulous as ever: dry, witty and so knowledgeable. Luckily, I knew my answers too!

This was then followed by just under two hours of book-signing, with each of us signing our own and each other's recent books, mine being the second reprint edition of Haynes' ASTRONOMY MANUAL. Again, it was surreal ... and undeniably a fabulous experience ... I think possibly the pinnacle of my amateur astronomy exploits!

Other invited speakers for the event included: NASA astronauts Dr Andrew Thomas and Dr Shannon Walker, space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Lord Professor Robert Winston, Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Mark Butler, Programme Manager for Spaceport America at Virgin Galactic, Simon Singh MBE ... among others ... you have the idea! I felt incredibly awed and honoured to be in the theatre of these renowned 'giants' of the astronomical and scientific world.

What a day! One that will linger long in the memory. And there are more talks in the pipeline ... watch this space.