Queen's Astronomy Day
Come and join the Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen’s University Belfast, in conjunction with NI SciFest 2020, for a day of astronomy and space related activities between 11am and 4pm on February 22, 2020 in the Lanyon Building.
There will be a wide variety of indoor activities for all ages throughout the day, including hands-on activities, an ask-an-astronomer station, a demonstration of the Northern Lights using the Queen’s University Planeterella, and short talks by Queen’s astronomers.
Weather permitting, there will be small Solar telescopes outside the Lanyon Building showing visitors any sunspots, prominences and other features visible on the Sun that day. WARNING: NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT SPECIAL EYE PROTECTION.
No matter the weather, there will be lots to see and do! This is a free drop-in event. No prior registration is required. Please turn up and learn about space!
Talk schedule
Throughout the day we have a range of 15-20 minute talks by Queen's astronomers.
| Start time | Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 | How useful is Astronomy | Dr. Sam Grant |
| 12:00 | Supernova in the Milky Way | Michael Fulton |
| 12:30 | Finding planets around distant stars | Dr. Ernst de Mooij |
| 13:00 | Finding your way around the night sky with a planisphere | Dr. Ernst de Mooij |
| 13:30 | Blowing up a planet with lasers: A how-to guide | Owen McBrien |
| 14:30 | Solar Eclipses - Astrophysics Tourism | Dr. Ryan Milligan |
| 15:30 | AIDA: Where Activism Meets Asteroids | Dominik Kiersz |
Also check out our evening event, an Evening Of Astronomy At Queen's: Astronomy Question & Time Star Watch. Doors open at 6:30pm, event starts at 7:00pm