Sydney Writers' Festival 2008 - Online Program
Spacefarers of the New Millennium at Glebe Library
Event 116		print Print This Page
Over the past few years, robotic spacecraft from Earth have made ever deeper forays in the field of planetary exploration. We now have unprecedented insight into the geological history of Mars, and astonishing new surveys of the bizarre moons of Saturn.

Moreover, we stand on the brink of exciting new discoveries from Mercury, Venus, Mars and, in a few years' time, Pluto. What is driving this feverish activity to understand the nature of the Solar System? Using the latest amazing images from Mars and Saturn, Fred Watson spells out the motivation for these investigations. He also looks forward to the next phase of crewed spaceflight to the Moon and beyond.

Supported by City of Sydney Library.

Author Talk  |  Children & Young Adults, Science & Environment
Participants
Fred Watson

When
Thursday, May 22 2008
18:30 - 19:30

Where
Glebe Library
186 Glebe Point Road (cnr Wigram Road)
Glebe
Venue and Transport Info...

Cost
Free
Bookings essential
9298 3060

Schedule
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FRED WATSON (LOCAL)Watson, Fred by Seth Shostak, SETI Institute
Fred Watson says he has spent so many years working in large telescope domes that he has started to look like one. He is Astronomer in Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory at Coonabarabran, where his main scientific interest is gathering information on very large numbers of stars and galaxies. He is also an adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology, the University of Southern Queensland, and James Cook University.

Fred is well-known for his astronomy slots on ABC radio, and his recent books include Stargazer – the life and times of the telescope, Why is Uranus upside down? and other questions about the Universe, and the ABC's new blockbuster, Universe, for which he was chief consultant. In 2003, Fred received the David Allen Prize for communicating astronomy to the public, and in 2006 was the winner of the Australian Government Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. Fred has an asteroid named after him (5691 Fredwatson), but says that if it hits the Earth it won't be his fault...

www.fredwatson.com.au

also appearing at...
296: Astronomical