Uckfield 105 FM

Friday 6th December 2013

 

Feel free to listen in to my monthly radio show by clicking the Uckfield 105FM icon at left.

Along with radio presenter Tony Williams, we discuss the 'spectacle or speck' that is Comet ISON, the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn and all things wondrous in the winter night sky.

 

 

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!



UCKFIELD 105FM

RADIO SHOW

Friday 11 October 2013

 

Feel free to listen in to the latest broadcast where, with radio presenter, Tony Williams, we discuss the Higgs Boson and the October night sky.  Among the highlights are the alignment of the giant star Regulus with the red planet Mars and Comet ISON in the early morning hours.  And don't forget the mighty planet, Jupiter, poised to become even more magnificent.

Join in the fun by clicking the Uckfield FM icon at left.



HERSTMONCEUX OBSERVATORY

ASTRONOMY FESTIVAL

Friday 6 - Sunday 8 September 2013

 

With the field in the foreground of these historical domes replete with tents and the neighbouring car park full, clearly word continues to spread about this great three-day national astronomy event sponsored by the BBC's Sky at Night.

I go every year, ostensibly to catch some great speakers and soak up the atmosphere but, particularly, to watch renowned astro-imager, Nik Szymanek, deliver his sell-out presentation.  With a fabulous projector and large screen he thrilled us all with his latest images captured with Ian King (of Ian King Imaging) using their remotely operated telescope in Nerpio, Spain.  Stunning, literally jaw-dropping stuff.

As always, there were amazing activities for all, young and old, and, with some stunning clear skies on the Friday and Saturday evenings, amateur telescopes were turned skyward to capture some incredible astronomical objects and views of the Milky Way.

 

 

 

On a personal note, I was invited to be a Guest Speaker on the Sunday, the title of my presentation, 'Basketballs and Beyond' seemingly hitting just the right note.  How fantastic to have a sell-out audience join me in the historic Dome B - dark, cosy and so atmospheric beneath the 36-inch Yapp reflector telescope.  We shared a journey from the tiny to the truly tremendous.  The feedback was amazing and, as always, it reaffirmed for me why I love the subject so much. 

 

Roll on my next private presentation at Winchester's Intech Planetarium to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.  Can't wait!





Uckfield 105FM Radio

Friday 6 September 2013

 

Feel free to tune in to my most recent monthly appearance with radio presenter, Tony Williams, where we discuss the emergence of Comet ISON, what's in the  night sky for September and my views on a one-way ticket to the red planet, Mars! 

Click the Uckfield 105FM icon at left.

 

A report on the Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival 2013 will follow.

UCKFIELD 105FM

AUGUST RADIO SHOW

 

Feel free to listen in to this month's show to enjoy some, hopefully, informative 'persiflage' about the upcoming Perseids Meteor Shower due to peak on Sunday 11 and Monday 12 August.  Click the Uckfield FM icon at left.

The Observatory Science Centre

Wartling Road, Herstmonceux, Hailsham, East Sussex

Friday 6th to Sunday 8th September

I shall be presenting at 1.00pm on the Sunday but check out the great Guest Speakers on Saturday too! 

Hope to see you there!

UCKFIELD 105FM RADIO

July Show

 

Listen in to last month's radio show via the Uckfield FM icon at left.

Feel free to tune in at

1100hrs

on

Friday 2nd August

when, with Presenter, Tony Williams, we shall discuss the upcoming Perseids Meteor Shower and the publication of my second book, CELESTIAL EXTRA TEXTURE, detailed below and available through Amazon Kindle

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



Uckfield 105FM Radio

Friday 17th May 2013

 

The Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33)

 

 

Listen in to Friday's show with radio presenter Tony Williams as we share the delights of Saturn and the Hubble Space Telescope's recent Anniversary image of the stunning Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33).

Click Uckfield FM icon at left.

FURTHER CONFIRMED PRESENTATIONS

 

Thursday 13th June 2013

Fulham, London

in aid of

Riding for the Disabled Association

 

 

Sunday 8th September 2013

The Herstmonceux Observatory Science Centre

Astronomy Festival

 

 

Thursday 17th October 2013

Intech Winchester Planetarium

in aid of

Cancer Research UK

 

 

Above events are confirmed but more are in the pipeline.  Details to follow.

 



Astronomy in the Pub

Friday 22 February 2013

Horns Lodge Inn

South Chailey

 

 

 

A big thank you to Richie Jarvis and his team for making this such a brilliant fun evening!  What a fabulous idea.  Who says you have to be interested in astronomy to get interested in astronomy?!  I arrived at 6.00pm.  Richie, his friends and colleagues from the East Sussex Astronomical Society had all the scopes set up in the garden behind the pub - and you could just tell that even though the skies were cloudy (I mean, how else could they be?!) it wasn't going to matter a hang!  And it didn't because folk were checking out the scopes all evening.

 

 

Inside the already packed pub, walls and beams were bedecked with astro images.  A television screen at one end was all set for presentations, and so were those folk propping up the bar and filling the restaurant tables.  At 7.00pm Richie was on the microphone and took everyone on a journey to the red planet, Mars, with a thrilling seven-minute video of NASA's Curiosity touchdown thrown in for good measure.  It went down a treat and set a really exciting tone.

 

 

Next up was little 'ol me with my presentation 'Size Matters'. I wasn't sure how to pitch, so just started with our seemingly small Star and took 'the' journey out to the realms of the known Universe.  It was really fantastic to capture the unsuspecting, those who really had no clue whatsoever, who had just come along for a mildly interesting drink, or two, perhaps and found themselves discovering all kinds of things.  I could tell by the gasps and laughter that they were with me throughout ... and isn't it brilliant to distract two-thirds of those in a pub on a Friday night, so much so that they stop drinking, gather around and just stay with you.  So many that were previously uniniated were ... initiated!  That sure does make you feel GREAT!

 

 

Next up was Charlotte Clark, PhD student at Sussex University whom I was really fortunate to meet when we were both speakers with Richie at Brighton's swanky AMEX football stadium as part of the BBC-led Stargazing Live 2013 Event.  It was terrific to have time with Charlotte again, to hear all about her fascinating work number-crunching galaxies, and then to have it explained fully in her presentation, accompanied by lots of fascinating current data/images from the Herschel Space Telescope and those of her time spent in Hawaii. 

 

 

Charlotte kept the audience in the palm of her hand and had a terrific sense of humour too!

 

 

To finish, Rosemary Selmes from the East Sussex Astronomical Society gave an equally humorous and interesting presentation about her time spent working on the fabulous telescopes at the Herstmonceux Observatory.  As a big fan of the place, it was amazing to appreciate just how it must have been to work on these amazing bits of kit ... something I would have loved to have done.  Rosemary shared many personal experiences with both Charlotte and me afterwards - could have listened all night!

 

All in all, it was a fabulous evening and, judging from all the amazing feedback, was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  Well done everyone, especially Richie, for making it so brilliant and THANK YOU for inviting me along to play a small part.

 

 



SUSSEX LIFE

January 2013

Interview

with

Angela Wintle

 

Read full interview by accessing icon at right.

 

Image credit: www.eastmanphotography.co.uk



 



ASTRONOMY IN THE PUB

Friday 22 February 2013

1800hrs until Midnight

Horns Lodge

A275, South Chailey, BN8 4BD

Tel: 01273 400422

 

Come and join us in one of the darkest village pubs in the south east for an evening of astronomical discovery.  Telescopes will be set up in the rear garden for everyone to enjoy the night sky.  Amateur astronomers will be on hand to answer questions.  The event goes ahead, clear skies or not!  If cloudy, state of the art computer technology will reveal the astral wonders lurking behind.  See the International Space Station as it passes overhead and marvel at the giant gas planet Jupiter.

 

Speakers for the evening:

Richie Jarvis, astro-imager - South Common Observatory, East Sussex Astronomy Society

Jane A Green - author and broadcaster, Eastbourne Astronomy Society

Others to be announced.

 

For more info, contact Richie Jarvis: 07702 705427.  Email: richie@nebul.ae

BBC Stargazing Live 2013

American Express Community Stadium

Thursday 10th January

4.30pm to 8.00pm

 

 

 

Well over 500 guests joined us for this BBC-led stargazing event where not even cloudy skies could detract from a truly stunning venue that in itself resembled a space ship nestled in the South Downs!

 



 

The BBC and Stadium Crew worked hard to set up for the 4.30pm deadline and telescopes, like sentinels, stood poised for action alongside the pitch (below).

 

 

Image credit: Andy Lee: www.astronomy4everyone.org.uk

 

For Richie Jarvis, Charlotte Clarke and myself, as guest speakers for the Event, we had a relatively easy task to set up in one of the lecture rooms.  Less easy, however, was the issue of lighting whereby when we switched our lights off, so the entire east wing of the stadium was plunged into darkness!

Great fun was had by all!

 

Richie Jarvis (left), astro-imager, Jane A Green (centre), author and speaker,

Charlotte Clarke, PhD student, University of Sussex

 

But on a more serious note, it was a terrific evening.  It was so wonderful to witness such enthusiasm and interest in astronomy.  Throughout our talks we were joined by people of all ages.  What made it for me was the blind ex-astronomer who attended our presentations and never stopped smiling.

He confessed his joy at being involved in astronomy again.  But every gasp of wonder, every laugh of disbelief and every smile of incredulity made it worthwhile for me!

A fabulous night and so great to have played a small part.