http://astrotalkuk.org Not for profit, astronomy podcast based in the UK Thu, 17 May 2012 18:27:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Copyright © astrotalkuk publications gurbir@gurbir.co.uk (info@astrotalkuk.org) gurbir@gurbir.co.uk (info@astrotalkuk.org) astronomy 1440 http://astrotalkuk.org/wp-content/uploads/atuk144144.jpg http://astrotalkuk.org 144 144 Amateur Astronomy in the UK Hosted by an amateur astronomer, AstrotalkUK is podcast looking at the role, activities and achievements of amateur astronomers in the UK. Mostly a prerecorded mp3 audio file but occasionally accompanied by a video too. The internet being what it is, content will not be limited to the UK nor will the contributors always be amateur astronomers. Astronomy, Space, Solar, System, Cosmos, Universe, Moon, Earth, NASA, spaceflight, Gagarin, Rocket info@astrotalkuk.org info@astrotalkuk.org gurbir@gurbir.co.uk no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/17/bis-northern-meeting-19th-may-2012york-final-update/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/17/bis-northern-meeting-19th-may-2012york-final-update/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 18:27:07 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=2025 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/17/bis-northern-meeting-19th-may-2012york-final-update/feed/ 0 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/15/remembering-the-manchester-interplanetary-society/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/15/remembering-the-manchester-interplanetary-society/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 18:22:13 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1991 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/15/remembering-the-manchester-interplanetary-society/feed/ 0 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/09/a-public-event-to-commemorate-manchesters-first-rocket-pioneers/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/09/a-public-event-to-commemorate-manchesters-first-rocket-pioneers/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 06:52:25 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1938 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/05/09/a-public-event-to-commemorate-manchesters-first-rocket-pioneers/feed/ 0 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/02/18/bis-northern-meeting-york-19th-may-2012/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/02/18/bis-northern-meeting-york-19th-may-2012/#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:17:06 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1571 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/02/18/bis-northern-meeting-york-19th-may-2012/feed/ 2 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/02/14/episode-48-13th-february-2012-mat-irvine-early-bbc-special-effects-department-and-sky-at-night-episode-from-1963/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/02/14/episode-48-13th-february-2012-mat-irvine-early-bbc-special-effects-department-and-sky-at-night-episode-from-1963/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:30:50 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1545 http://astrotalkuk.org/2012/02/14/episode-48-13th-february-2012-mat-irvine-early-bbc-special-effects-department-and-sky-at-night-episode-from-1963/feed/ 0 0:00:01 The same year that the first woman made it in to space in 1963, a quaint children’s sci-fi series called Dr Who started on BBC television in the UK.  Eventually it became popular around the world and has enjoyed success once more since it restarted[...] The same year that the first woman made it in to space in 1963, a quaint children’s sci-fi series called Dr Who started on BBC television in the UK.  Eventually it became popular around the world and has enjoyed success once more since it restarted again in 2005. Mat Irvine worked in the special effects department of the BBC and made the original model of K9 for Dr Who but he also worked on other programs including the Sky at Night. One of the memorable characters from Dr Who was Davros. The horribly scarred, evil looking megalomaniac creator of the Daleks and arch enemy of the doctor. Listen out for my faux pas when I refer to Davros as StavrosJ In this episode, Mat talks about the special effects department in those early days at the BBC and about the recently resurfaced 1963 episode of Sky at Night featuring Arthur C Clark. A clip from the missing episode was shown in the November 2011 edition of sky at night. You can see the full episode here. BBC, History, Media, podcast info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/10/03/gagarin-statue/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/10/03/gagarin-statue/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:01:40 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1257 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/10/03/gagarin-statue/feed/ 0 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/29/yuri-gagarin-talk-and-book-signing-mosi/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/29/yuri-gagarin-talk-and-book-signing-mosi/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:59:15 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1164 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/29/yuri-gagarin-talk-and-book-signing-mosi/feed/ 0 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/25/yuri-gagarin-statue-in-london/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/25/yuri-gagarin-statue-in-london/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:32 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1106 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/25/yuri-gagarin-statue-in-london/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Links to audio and video below. The 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s UK visit was marked by the unveiling of an aluminium statue of Gagarin, an exact copy of the one outside Lyubertsy Technical School number 10 where Gagarin started his training a[...] Links to audio and video below. The 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s UK visit was marked by the unveiling of an aluminium statue of Gagarin, an exact copy of the one outside Lyubertsy Technical School number 10 where Gagarin started his training as a foundryman. The statue, a gift from the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos to the British Council, is located outside the British Council Offices in London but only for one year. This episode is a collection of some of the speeches and my short interviews during the three events on 14th July. They were the unveiling of the statue in the morning, the lunchtime reception at the Russian Embassy and the evening reception back at the British council.  So, in order of appearance here is a list of all the contributors in this episode Unveiling of the statue ceremony was opened by Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council Vladimir Popovkin Head of Roscosmos (speaking in Russian but with a translator) Yuri Gagarin’s oldest daughter – Elena Gagarina unveiled the statue Derek Pullen who provides a brief description of how the statue came from Moscow to London. Two recordings during the lunchtime Reception at the Russian Embassy where incidentally, Gagarin spent each of his four nights in the UK The Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko, Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, who holds the record for the longest time spent in space British Council Evening reception Nataliya Koroleva. Chief Designer Sergei Korolev’s daughter. Who gave me a gentle rebuke whilst looking through my book “Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester” and seeing a photograph of Wernher von Braun and Herman Oberth but not of her father! The episode ends with Ambassador Yakovenko briefly recalling his recent meeting with the queen.             Korolev’s daughter, grand daughter and great grand daughter astronaut, Gagarin, History, podcast, Rocket, space, Spaceflight, video, Vostok info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/10/episode-4610th-july-2011-yuri-gagarin-in-london-and-manchester-new-book-and-personal-recollections/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/10/episode-4610th-july-2011-yuri-gagarin-in-london-and-manchester-new-book-and-personal-recollections/#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:38:07 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1040 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/10/episode-4610th-july-2011-yuri-gagarin-in-london-and-manchester-new-book-and-personal-recollections/feed/ 2 0:00:01 On his first visit outside the eastern bloc, Yuri Gagarin arrived in London for a 5 day visit on Tuesday July 11th 1961. He was greeted with a tumultuous and sincere warm welcome everywhere he went including his meetings with the Prime minister and [...] On his first visit outside the eastern bloc, Yuri Gagarin arrived in London for a 5 day visit on Tuesday July 11th 1961. He was greeted with a tumultuous and sincere warm welcome everywhere he went including his meetings with the Prime minister and the Queen. The British government juggled with acknowledging Gagarin personal courage and the Soviet Union’s historic technological achievement whilst assuring its allies, USA, France and West Germany that the visit would not be exploited exclusively as a communist propaganda opportunity. When the Manchester based Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers discovered that Gagarin had trained as a foundry worker, they invited him to join their union as a honorary member.  He came to Manchester on 12th July and visited the union office, the Metrovicks plant in Trafford Park and the city’s town hall before flying back to London six hours later. During the late seventies I had lived near this union office and only discovered in 2010 that Gagarin had actually been there. I looked but failed to find any books on the subject so I decide to write one. It is called “Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester” and attempts to fill in a small bit of the Gagarin story. The first and last chapters describe Gagarin’s flight, some of the key individuals involved, the air crash that claimed his life in 1968 and his personal impact as an advocate of peace during the Cold War.  In the remaining chapter – 2-7, I document the background to his invitation and details of where he went and who he met.  Some of those recollections are the subject of this episode. It includes clips from Captain Eric Brown and Reg Turnill, longer versions of which are available in episodes 40 and 41.  My thanks to those who contributed to this episode – Reg Turnill, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, Brenda Knowles, Marjorie Rose, Stanley Nelson, Captain Eric Brown and Stanislava Sajawizc. Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester 185 Pages, 27 Illustrations ISBN 978-0-9569337-0-6 Paperback £10.00 (+postage) and eBook (iPad and Kindle) £2.50 available from publications@astrotalkuk.org Download a pdf   of  the page of contents, Chapter 2 “An Uneasy Invitation” and the text above or all three in a zip file.   Recollections of Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo. Education, Gagarin, History, Media, podcast, Rocket, video info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/04/episode-45-4th-july-2011-apollo-15-command-module-pilot-al-worden/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/04/episode-45-4th-july-2011-apollo-15-command-module-pilot-al-worden/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:00:10 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=1004 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/07/04/episode-45-4th-july-2011-apollo-15-command-module-pilot-al-worden/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Probably the most scientifically demanding Apollo mission, Apollo 15 was launched on 26th July 1971 on a two week mission. Al Worden in the command module orbited the Moon for 75 orbits whilst Dave Scott and James Irwin explored the south eastern ed[...] Probably the most scientifically demanding Apollo mission, Apollo 15 was launched on 26th July 1971 on a two week mission. Al Worden in the command module orbited the Moon for 75 orbits whilst Dave Scott and James Irwin explored the south eastern edge of Mare Imbrium on the Moon’s surface.  Apollo 15 launched with the heaviest payload of all Apollo missions and included the first moon rover, a sub-satellite launched from Apollo 15 in to lunar orbit and a collection of science instruments including a high resolution camera to map the lunar surface. To coincide with the 40th anniversary, on July 26th 2011, writing with Francis French Al Worden is publishing his autobiography.  In this interview recorded in London on 22nd May, Al talks about his test pilot career before joining NASA, the Apollo 15 mission, the “Covers incident” (these were stamped postal covers franked on the day of launch and again the day of ret urn for subsequent public sale) his post NASA career and his autobiography Falling to Earth. In addition to bringing back 77kg of Lunar Material, high resolution images of the Moon from lunar orbit and images of the zodiacal light, solar corona and gegenschein, Al Worden conducted a 38 minute space walk a day after they fired the engine for their journey home from Lunar orbit. ________________________ Today’s quote is from Al during this interview. It is a reminder that space exploration is not only about cutting-edge technology and breathtaking adventure but it is above all a human endeavour. “The story of Apollo 15 is a story of betrayal by people and by the government” apollo, astronaut, Education, History, Moon, NASA, podcast, Rocket, space, Spaceflight, video info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/12/episode-42-april-12th-2011-rare-video-of-yuri-gagarin-in-manchester/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/12/episode-42-april-12th-2011-rare-video-of-yuri-gagarin-in-manchester/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:00:45 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=792 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/12/episode-42-april-12th-2011-rare-video-of-yuri-gagarin-in-manchester/feed/ 2 0:00:01 Scroll down for the audio and video. On a cold bright Wednesday morning fifty years ago in the Soviet town of  Turatam, a rocket launched a man into space. A critical initial step for any civilisation that eventually travels to the stars. Any first [...] Scroll down for the audio and video. On a cold bright Wednesday morning fifty years ago in the Soviet town of  Turatam, a rocket launched a man into space. A critical initial step for any civilisation that eventually travels to the stars. Any first is both special and trivial. Special because by definition it only happens once and arises from a complex set of circumstances that happen to come together at that point in time.  It is trivial in the sense that there is nothing necessarily unique about the individuals that are involved. They too are chosen by circumstance largely beyond their control. Driven perhaps by a desire for personal glory, an overwhelming sense of duty or an innate curiosity to explore, the early space travellers and those who facilitated it overcame personal challenges, exhaustive training and exposure to unrivalled grave danger to bring a new experience to mankind. Less than a month after his 27th birthday, Yuri Gagarin was launched into space aboard Vostok 1. Fifty years on, there are now around 550 human beings to have experienced spaceflight in Earth orbit. Of all the orbital spaceflights Gagarin’s 108 minute flight is the shortest. It was his only spaceflight. He died in an air crash in 1968 whilst training to return to spaceflight. In the immediate aftermath of his flight, Gagarin embarked on what turned out to be pretty much a world tour. In July 1961 he came to Britain at the invitation of the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers, because prior to joining the Soviet Air Force, Gagarin had trained and worked as a foundryman. He ended up meeting the British Prime Minister in London and the Queen invited him for lunch at Buckingham Palace, but he came to Manchester first because that is where the union was based. Gagarin visited the union headquarters where he was made their first honorary member and awarded a gold medal inscribed with the word “together moulding a better world”. He went on to visit a foundry in Trafford Park (the world’s first purpose built and largest industrial estate) and then Manchester Town Hall for a civic reception where he met Sir Bernard Lovell director of Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope that had assisted in the tracking of Soviet satellites and spaceships. This week’s episode is the story of a short, originally 16mm cine film partially with audio recorded during Gagarin’s visit to Manchester on 12th July 1961.  The film shows Gagarin’s arrival at Manchester Ringway Airport, the presentation ceremony at the union office in Old Trafford, his visits to the foundry workers in Trafford Park and the Manchester Town Hall. The roll of film was discovered unlabelled in a cupboard in 1986 as the union prepared to move out of the building that Gagarin visited to another.  The discovery was made by Alf Lloyd, a Union Regional Officer and colleague. It had no label and was almost discarded.  Alf Lloyd presented the film to the Manchester based North West Film Archive in 1987. In early 2011, by chance, I had been in contact with space historian Francis French, who is from Manchester but is now the Director of Education at San Diego Air and Space Museum in California . In 1987 he was researching Gagarin’s visit to Manchester when he was shown a cine film in a Manchester union office on a cine projector. During the screening a part of the film broke off and he was given the broken segment as a gift.  Fortunately, Francis kept that segment safe and recognised that his segment was part of the same roll of film. After almost a quarter of a century later the two sections have been once again digitally reunited and an edited version is available online at Astrotalkuk.org.  The original film resides with the Northwest Film Archive. Not least because of his humble family origins but also because of his deep communist principles, the empathy and warmth Gagarin experienced during his meeting with the foundry workers in Trafford Park was genuine and sincere. On 12th April 1962, the first anniversa[...] Gagarin, History, podcast, Rocket, space, Spaceflight, video, Vostok info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/09/episode-41-april-9th-2011-yuri-gagarin-and-reg-turnill/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/09/episode-41-april-9th-2011-yuri-gagarin-and-reg-turnill/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:26:21 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=760 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/09/episode-41-april-9th-2011-yuri-gagarin-and-reg-turnill/feed/ 1 0:00:01 Scroll down for the audio and video. Reg Turnill joined the BBC in 1956 with the remit to cover aviation and defence. The launch of Sputnik 1 in the following year expanded his remit to include space. He is particularly well known for his coverage o[...] Scroll down for the audio and video. Reg Turnill joined the BBC in 1956 with the remit to cover aviation and defence. The launch of Sputnik 1 in the following year expanded his remit to include space. He is particularly well known for his coverage of the American Apollo program. In the UK, his name and face, along with that of Patrick Moore and James Burke, is associated with the commentators who covered live the Apollo Moon landings on the BBC. In April 1961, Reg was sent to Moscow for Gagarin’s first post flight international news conference. It turned out to be a fascinating story of cold war politics as well as leading edge space technology. In his own words Reg describes this as “ a phony press conference, an entirely choreographed event designed to humiliate the west” and he summarised the whole press conference as “good humoured evasion”. Interacting through an interpreter and restricted to pre submitted written questions, he had to put aside his usual analytical approach. However he recognises that this was “a great achievement”. This interview was recorded on January 19th 2011 at his home on the south coast of England. ________________________ Today’s quote is from Reg Turnill’s book “The Moon Landings: An Eye Witness Account”. Following John Glen’s second spaceflight in October 1998, Reg at 83 the oldest working space correspondent, asked John Glen, the oldest man in space, a question. In part Glen answered “Old folk have ambitions and dreams too, like everybody else. So why don’t they work for them? Don’t sit on the couch. Go for it” Reg Turnill talks about Yuri Gagarin’s first press conference from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo. Gagarin, History, journalism, podcast, Rocket, space, Spaceflight, video, Vostok info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/02/episode-40-april-2nd-2011-gagarin-in-london-captain-eric-brown/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/02/episode-40-april-2nd-2011-gagarin-in-london-captain-eric-brown/#comments Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:00:00 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=685 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/04/02/episode-40-april-2nd-2011-gagarin-in-london-captain-eric-brown/feed/ 2 0:00:01 Scroll down for the options to play audio and video. On the third of Gagarin’s five days in Britain, immediately following his meeting with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, on Thursday 13th July 1961,  he had the only private meeting of his visit wi[...] Scroll down for the options to play audio and video. On the third of Gagarin’s five days in Britain, immediately following his meeting with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, on Thursday 13th July 1961,  he had the only private meeting of his visit with Captain Eric Brown where the press was not invited, no photographs were taken and no official record was kept.  During this “test pilot” to “test pilot” meeting, Gagarin clearly told Brown that he had ejected from his spacecraft. Although not in the same league as Brown, Brown did consider Gagarin as a test pilot. The Soviets consistently maintained that he had not but eventually, a decade later hey conceded officially that he had. When I asked Captain Brown why he had never published the details of his private meeting before, “no one asked me before” replied. At the time Captain Brown was the deputy director of Naval Warfare and the meeting took place between him, his deputy and colleague from the Admiralty who could speak Russian but that was kept secret from Gagarin and Belitsky. Brown sought additional confidence that the translator was translating sincerely. Captain Brown has had a unique career as a test pilot. He had met many of the key players in aviation and rocket design. Hanna Reitsch, Herman Goering and Wernher Von Braun. Brown’s achievements as a test pilot were well established and it is probably with the knowledge of his accomplishments that the Soviets agreed to such a meeting. Brown still holds the world record in deck landings (2407) and the number of aircraft types flown (487). He also has several firsts (first deck landing of a twin engine aircraft, first deck landing of a jet engine) of which the Russian’s and Gagarin would have known. By 1960, many of his books were available in translation in technical colleges which young aviators like Gagarin would have come across. It is likely that Gagarin new of Brown and wanted to meet Brown just a much as Brown wanted to meet Gagarin. Immediately following the war, Brown was inevitably involved in supersonic flight testing and reached speeds up to mach 0.9. He was testing a secret high performance aircraft designated as the Miles M52 which was suddenly and suspiciously dropped in 1946. Had it not been, it was very likely that Brown would have added first supersonic flight to his collections of firsts. In the event Chuck Jaeger in USA claimed that achievement in 1947. He is considered to be the greatest ever test pilot by some within the aviation industry. An extensive interview, recorded in his home on 19th January two days before his 92nd birthday, is edited specifically for his recollections about Yuri Gagarin.   Captain Eric Brown and Yuri Gagarin – 13th Juy 1961 from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo.   _________________________ Today’s quote is about how we humans relate to each other> It is from Captain Eric Brown’s book “Wings on my sleeves”. He is sent to France with three former German officers to recover a high performance German aircraft during the winter of 1945/6.&nbsp A kind of friendship with sincerity in it grew up amongst us. If they had wanted to they could have easily disposed of me and made a run for it. But they carried out their duties to the letter and often exceeded it. History, NASA, podcast, Rocket, space, Spaceflight, USSR, video, Vostok info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/03/09/apollo-astronaut-in-uk/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/03/09/apollo-astronaut-in-uk/#comments Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:39:52 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=627 http://astrotalkuk.org/2011/03/09/apollo-astronaut-in-uk/feed/ 0 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/12/11/yuri-gagarin-in-manchester-university-of-salford-15th-december-2010/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/12/11/yuri-gagarin-in-manchester-university-of-salford-15th-december-2010/#comments Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:51:55 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=523 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/12/11/yuri-gagarin-in-manchester-university-of-salford-15th-december-2010/feed/ 1 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/11/22/episode-37-november-21st-2010-progress-of-science-through-the-ages/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/11/22/episode-37-november-21st-2010-progress-of-science-through-the-ages/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:46:28 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=505 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/11/22/episode-37-november-21st-2010-progress-of-science-through-the-ages/feed/ 3 0:19:17 Scroll to the bottom of this post to play the audio. On November 3rd this year, Professor Jim Al-khalili was to give three lectures in Liverpool on the same day (Quantum Physics, Advances in Mathematics in Medieval Islam and On the Shoulders of East[...] Scroll to the bottom of this post to play the audio. On November 3rd this year, Professor Jim Al-khalili was to give three lectures in Liverpool on the same day (Quantum Physics, Advances in Mathematics in Medieval Islam and On the Shoulders of Eastern Giants: the Forgotten Contribution of the Medieval Physicists). I did feel a bit of a stalker, I attended all three, but fortunately I was not alone. It is not often that I get to personally witness the scientific method in real life. The most illuminating part of the day of the three lectures was the the Q and A following the second lecture. A questioner put her hand up and stated clearly that she had a correction rather than a question. She had heard the professor talk about the concept and symbol for the number zero. During his lecture, the professor had recalled the contribution from the Babylonians, Mayans and Indian mathematicians. The questioner had been researching the substantial contribution from the Egyptians in this area which the professor had not mentioned. What happened next was an affirmation of the scientific method. The professor could have been defensive, confrontational or dismissive. Instead, he listened to her argument and asked her to stay behind to so he could learn details of her research. That is the power of the scientific idea. It stands only on the edifice of evidence and not the economic wealth, social position or academic reputation of those who hold it. The progress of scientific knowledge is not continuous and linear but evolves through a series of stops and starts. Thomas Kuhn, in his 1962 book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” described the progress of science as periodic “paradigm shifts”. He was referring to the fundamental differences in thinking that have lead to leaps in scientific understanding. Could that stop and start concept describe how science develops through the ages too? Scientific discoveries are frequently lost, forgotten or deliberately suppressed. So the story of scientific discovery is frequently a story of rediscovery. William Harvey ‘s discovery in 1628 of the human heart and circulation of blood though the human body had much in common with that of Ibn al-Nafis 400 years earlier. Nicolas Copernicus is credited in the 16th century with introducing the heliocentric system (placing the Sun not the Earth, in the centre of the solar system) but this idea had been propounded by Aristarchus in the third century BC. The omissions are not just in science. One example of technological development lost for over a thousand years that sticks out like a sore thumb is the Antikythera mechanism, a device for calculating and displaying relative positions of the Sun, Moon and planets. The precision of the internal mechanism would not be repeated for over a thousand years. Why these omissions occur is unclear. History, like science is always a work in progress. Reflecting on why the ancient Greek tradition of scientific method stalled, Carl Sagan in his celebrated work, Cosmos, concluded that their society was elitist and self serving. Key figures like Plato were hostile to experiment and perpetuated the idea that human thought alone was sufficient to explain the physical world. This intellectually corrupt approach sustained their slave owning unjust society. Search for truth was not their goal. In his new book “Pathfinders” Professor Al-Khalili attempts to fill “a” gap in the history of science by revisiting the work done by the Arabic scholars during the period known in Europe as the dark ages. It is not a story of Islamic science but of science conducted in the Arabic language which has its roots in Islam. For around 600 years (from 9th to the 15th century), sandwiched between Greek and Latin, the international language of science was Arabic. A professor of theoretical nuclear physics in the University of Surrey, he was born in Baghdad to a Christian mother and a Muslim father. As an atheist , Jim Al-Khalili, emphasize[...] Education, God, History, Media, podcast, Ptolomy, Religion, Science info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/04/10/apollo-astronaut-visiting-uk/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/04/10/apollo-astronaut-visiting-uk/#comments Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:00:37 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=324 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/04/10/apollo-astronaut-visiting-uk/feed/ 5 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/01/29/episode-33-january-27th-2010-ptolemy%e2%80%99s-almagest/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/01/29/episode-33-january-27th-2010-ptolemy%e2%80%99s-almagest/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:15:33 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=256 http://astrotalkuk.org/2010/01/29/episode-33-january-27th-2010-ptolemy%e2%80%99s-almagest/feed/ 1 0:35:41 If you had the task of gathering all of humanity’s knowledge of cosmology in one place, how would you do it? Answers to questions such as, How big is the Earth? At what date and time will the Moon be full again? What makes the Sun shine? How old is [...] If you had the task of gathering all of humanity’s knowledge of cosmology in one place, how would you do it? Answers to questions such as, How big is the Earth? At what date and time will the Moon be full again? What makes the Sun shine? How old is the Universe? Today a good place to start the project would be to scour the sources online. In about 150AD Claudius Ptolemaeus, better known as Ptolemy, a Greek national with Roman citizenship living in Egypt, attempted to do just that. He is best known for his encyclopaedic work written in ancient Greek “Syntaxis Mathematica”, perhaps better known as the Almagest from the Arabic Al magisti “the greatest”. He was an industrious author of many scientific and mathematical treaties but he also collected works going back hundreds of years. The Almagest was the premier source of knowledge for describing the cosmos for almost two thousand years. Nothing of the original survives, only hand written copies of hand written copies. Today’s episode is partially about one such copy, A seven hundred year old manuscript identified recently in the special collections of the Brotherton Library in the University of Leeds. Only parts of it is the Almagest. The manuscript was kept by Anthony Askew,   Joseph windham and then  lord Brotherton who donated it to the University of Leeds. This episode is also about how information is transmitted through history. The value that successive individuals, societies and civilisations put on them. The inevitable errors in the mishmash of translations over hundreds of years from one language (Ancient Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Latin and English) to another or the periodic attempts by one scribe to diligently copy the work of another. In early 2009 Dr Regine May and Professor Malcolm Heath came across a 14th century manuscript catalogued as a work of Astrology and discovered it contained elements of Ptolemy’s Almagest. The manuscript in three volumes has yet to receive detailed  scholarly scrutiny. In today’s episode there are 4 contributors.  Dr Regine May outlines how the almost accidental discovery of this manuscript came about and Dr Oliver Pickering, the keeper of the special collections describes how the library acquired the manuscript. A live recording of Professor Malcolm Heath, Dr Allan Chapman and Dr Oliver Pickering inspecting the manuscript in the Brotherton Library. ==================================== Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher of the late 19th century who read and wrote about the ancient Greek culture. Perhaps it was the writings from the ancient Greek civilisation which lead him to conclude The future influences the present just as much as the past. Cosmology, Education, History, podcast, Ptolomy info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2009/06/28/episode-26-antikythera-mechanism/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2009/06/28/episode-26-antikythera-mechanism/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:01:55 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=148 http://astrotalkuk.org/2009/06/28/episode-26-antikythera-mechanism/feed/ 1 0:00:01 Everyone who comes across the Antikythera mechanism goes through a phase initially of disbelief and then the awe inspiring realisation that something almost from another world actually exists in ours. Imagine William Shakespeare writing Hamlet u[...] Everyone who comes across the Antikythera mechanism goes through a phase initially of disbelief and then the awe inspiring realisation that something almost from another world actually exists in ours. Imagine William Shakespeare writing Hamlet using a laptop. Surely a ridiculous proposition he was about 300 years too early for that. He didn’t but today’s topic is just as incredible but thanks to the presence of physical evidence- true. The bronze department of the Museum in Athens has a small device slightly bigger than a pocket dictionary which has spent 2000 years under the Mediterranean Sea. Its is a hand made hand operated mechanical mechanism which may have looked like a multi handed clock. This remarkably compact device can display the calendar, predict eclipses, illustrate the phase of the moon, indicate the position of most of the planets and even takes account of the precession of the lunar orbit. The mechanism is driven by a collection of precision gear wheels made in Greece about 100 BC and nothing like it would be made again for at least another 1000 years. My thanks to members of the Manchester Astronomical Society who arranged this visit for Tony Freeth to come and talk to them, and Conway Mothobi of the Manchester Metropolitan University hosting the event where this recording was made. My thanks of course to Tony Freeth for making the time on the day. Videos on Youtube Michael Wrights’ working model Nature Video: Antikythera Mechanism Part 1 Nature Video: Antikythera Mechanism Part 2 X-Ray images of the Antikythera An excellent version of the Antikythera Mechanism made with Lego. Archaeoastronomy, Cosmology, History, podcast, video info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2009/06/14/episode25science-and-religion/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2009/06/14/episode25science-and-religion/#comments Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:09:30 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=120 http://astrotalkuk.org/2009/06/14/episode25science-and-religion/feed/ 3 0:32:01 Science is the product of human intellect, creativity and imagination. It helps answers the profoundest of all questions. Where did life come from? How old is the Earth? What is the structure of the universe? How did humans come to be? As the histor[...] Science is the product of human intellect, creativity and imagination. It helps answers the profoundest of all questions. Where did life come from? How old is the Earth? What is the structure of the universe? How did humans come to be? As the history of science shows, as it progresses so does the nature, accuracy and reliability the answers to such questions. The scientific picture of the physical world is a provisional and an ever changing one. Science is not the only way to understand the world and our place within it.  Majority of the time humans have existed most of them have been equally content and secure with different answers to the same fundamental questions. For them ancient holly texts provide unambiguous solutions. Science is not needed because it is not required. The debate between science and religion is as intriguing and contentious today in the 21st century as it has always been. Science progresses by actively challenging its core tenants through the rational exercise of reason. On the other hand religious beliefs have divine origins, don’t require changing and are thus inherently stronger. There are surprising large number of high profile scientist who are also committed to a particular faith. Perhaps they can shed some light on how they reconcile this apparent contradiction. Dr Allan Chapman who is not a scientist but a historian of science and a practising Christian with a particular interest in the history of astronomy talks about science and religion.  He is the author of several books including biographies on Mary Summerville and Robert Hook. Perhaps he is better known  for  “Gods in the Sky”  and as the presenter the  of the three part series of the same name on channel4. Cosmology, God, History, podcast, Religion, Science info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/07/30/telescopes-before-galileo-part-2/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/07/30/telescopes-before-galileo-part-2/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:58:57 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=70 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/07/30/telescopes-before-galileo-part-2/feed/ 2 0:24:22 Chris Lord  of Blackpool & District Astronomical Society continues the story of the telescope leading up to its use by Galileo for astronomical observations. Ibn Sahl and Ibn al-Haythem were two scholars who during the 10th and 11th century deve[...] Chris Lord  of Blackpool & District Astronomical Society continues the story of the telescope leading up to its use by Galileo for astronomical observations. Ibn Sahl and Ibn al-Haythem were two scholars who during the 10th and 11th century developed the fundemental mathematical principles of refraction, reflection and dispersion and kick started the science of optics. Chris concludes this 2nd part at that point in history which marks the beginning of the telescope – Galileo’s profound astronomical discoveries in 1609. Galileo, History, podcast, Telescope info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/07/29/telescopes-before-galileo/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/07/29/telescopes-before-galileo/#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:45:28 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=52 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/07/29/telescopes-before-galileo/feed/ 1 0:16:58 Hans Lipperhey’s patent application in the Netherlands for a telescope was formally denied on 2nd October 1608. Nonetheless, it is that individual, that place and that date which history associates with the invention of the telescope. Most of [...] Hans Lipperhey’s patent application in the Netherlands for a telescope was formally denied on 2nd October 1608. Nonetheless, it is that individual, that place and that date which history associates with the invention of the telescope. Most of us are aware of the fundamental astronomical discoveries Galileo went on to make with it in the following year but could they have been made earlier? Three thousand years ago, in what today is  Iraq , the  Nimrud lens now in the British Museum is clearly recognised as a lens. It probably could not have been used as part of an astronomical telescope but it is evidence that strongly indicates that lenses were in use long before Lipperhey and Galileo. The Pharos lighthouse in Alexandria is another illlustration of the advance understanding of optics in ancient times. Chris Lord is an accomplished amateur astronomer and member of Blackpool & District Astronomical Society. He has recently completed a major piece of research in telescopes and optics to mark the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. In this Episode, Chris talks about at the theory of vision, optics and the making and use of lenses during the almost two centuries from Euclid to Galileo. Galileo, History, podcast, Telescope info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/06/28/science-science-fiction-and-astrobiology/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/06/28/science-science-fiction-and-astrobiology/#comments Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:09:45 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=35 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/06/28/science-science-fiction-and-astrobiology/feed/ 0 0:19:11 Professor Mark Brake from the University of Glamorgan has an eclectic interest. An academic, broadcaster and author of science and popular science books, he is the organising chair for the the third conference of the Astrobiology Society of Britain:[...] Professor Mark Brake from the University of Glamorgan has an eclectic interest. An academic, broadcaster and author of science and popular science books, he is the organising chair for the the third conference of the Astrobiology Society of Britain: ASB3: The Living Universe, will take place in Cardiff between July 1-4, 2008. We spoke about the relationship between science & science fiction and astrobiology. Astrobiology, Education, History, podcast, seti info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/05/20/astronomy-a-cultural-perspective/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/05/20/astronomy-a-cultural-perspective/#comments Tue, 20 May 2008 22:56:52 +0000 admin http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=29 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/05/20/astronomy-a-cultural-perspective/feed/ 0 0:31:00 You can’t think of Darwin without Wallace, Laurel without Hardy. In UK astronomy there is no more an enduring and familiar partnership than Henbest and Couper. Nigel and Heather have been writing, broadcasting, supporting and publicising astronomy f[...] You can’t think of Darwin without Wallace, Laurel without Hardy. In UK astronomy there is no more an enduring and familiar partnership than Henbest and Couper. Nigel and Heather have been writing, broadcasting, supporting and publicising astronomy for decades. Their most recent project is a series of daily radio programs for BBC Radio4 called Cosmic Quest and an associated book History of Astronomy which together chart the story of how human societies through history and around the globe have attempted to understand the universe and their place within it. Nigel Henbest – Science Writer from gurbir on Vimeo. Cosmology, Education, History, Media, Moon, podcast info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/05/06/episode-14titan/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/05/06/episode-14titan/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 03:57:07 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=26 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/05/06/episode-14titan/feed/ 0 0:27:32 After a 7 year journey, Cassini/ Huygens arrived at Saturn in 2004 and Huygens landed on the surface of Titan on January 14th 2005. The only moon within the solar system known to have a substantial atmosphere. On Monday 3rd of July 1989 it was possi[...] After a 7 year journey, Cassini/ Huygens arrived at Saturn in 2004 and Huygens landed on the surface of Titan on January 14th 2005. The only moon within the solar system known to have a substantial atmosphere. On Monday 3rd of July 1989 it was possible to study the atmosphere of Titan from here on Earth when it occulted a 5.8mag star 28 Sagittarius. Ken Irving from Salford Astronomical Society describes the observation he made and video recording of the unexpected central flash. Available below. Using data from the onboard Acoustic Sensor Unit, the Planetary Society compressed Huygens two and half hour descent into a 10 second audio clip. After landing, Huygens continued to transmit data including those incredible pictures of the surface for another 70 minutes until the communication link to Earth – Cassini disappeared over the horizon. It would not come in range again for 40 days by when Huygens’ batteries were dead. There in its dark cold -180C deep freeze it remains. Probably intact. Professor John Zarnecki from the Open University who lead the Surface Science Package team talk a little about the achievements f the Cassini/Huygens mission. CCD, History, Media, podcast, Titan, video info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/27/episode13rockets/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/27/episode13rockets/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:59:48 +0000 admin http://localhost/wp25/?p=34 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/27/episode13rockets/feed/ 1 0:27:44 You may have seen the report from the British UK Space Exploration Working Group suggesting that Britain can get two British Astronauts to the Space station costing less than £75m over 5 years by commercially engaging the Russian Soyuz program rat[...] You may have seen the report from the British UK Space Exploration Working Group suggesting that Britain can get two British Astronauts to the Space station costing less than £75m over 5 years by commercially engaging the Russian Soyuz program rather than the annual £60m cost of going with ESA, or indeed developing a British launch capability. The Astronomer Royal on the other hand insists that unmanned space research is the way to go. You get a heck of a lot more science for your money Dave and Leslie Wright from the British Rocketry Oral History program (BROHP) reminisce about the early days when Britain had its own launch capability and the UK Space conference that they host each year. Want to be a rocket Scientist? Well a new book from a rocket scientist Lucy Rogers may be a good start. Lucy is also the chairman of the Vectis Astronomical Society on the isle of Wight. Their website must be one of the most elaborate. Check it out but .. turn down the volume on your PC first. Education, History, podcast, Rocket info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/20/episode12journey-to-the-moon/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/20/episode12journey-to-the-moon/#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:16:06 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=21 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/20/episode12journey-to-the-moon/feed/ 0 0:28:40 Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing in the Sea of Tranquillity on the moon. In today’s episode – assistant director & co-producer Chris Riley talks about the recent film “In the Shadow of the Moon” which recounts that perio[...] Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing in the Sea of Tranquillity on the moon. In today’s episode – assistant director & co-producer Chris Riley talks about the recent film “In the Shadow of the Moon” which recounts that period and someone who was a part of it – astronaut Buzz Aldrin on his interest in Astronomy. A short written account of his visit including a lunch with him and his wife is here. Buzz Aldrin from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo. apollo, astronaut, Education, History, Media, Moon, podcast, video info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/06/astronomy-and-space-broadcasters/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/06/astronomy-and-space-broadcasters/#comments Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:14:31 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/?p=45 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/04/06/astronomy-and-space-broadcasters/feed/ 0 0:25:46 The veteran BBC aerospace correspondent Reg Turnill recalls some of the key moments that he personally covered during the height of the space race. Reg has recorded his eye witness account in his book The Moonlandings. Chris Lintott one of the auth[...] The veteran BBC aerospace correspondent Reg Turnill recalls some of the key moments that he personally covered during the height of the space race. Reg has recorded his eye witness account in his book The Moonlandings. Chris Lintott one of the authors of Bang! and a co-presenters on Sky at Night far too young to have experienced the Apollo program personally, looks forward to the next manned mission to the moon. You have probably heard of Galaxy Zoo but did you know Galaxy Zoo 2 is in the pipeline too. History, journalism, Media, Moon, podcast, populariser info@astrotalkuk.org no no http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/01/20/episode1-january-20th-2008-download-105mb/ http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/01/20/episode1-january-20th-2008-download-105mb/#comments Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:00:19 +0000 Gurbir http://astrotalkuk.org/wp/?p=7 http://astrotalkuk.org/2008/01/20/episode1-january-20th-2008-download-105mb/feed/ 0 0:33:36 Amateur Astronomy in the 21st Century: Will Comet 17P Holmes brighten again? Is an asteroid heading for an impact on a Mars? Who was the founder of amateur astronomy? How amateur are amateur astronomers these days? The very first episode of Astrotal[...] Amateur Astronomy in the 21st Century: Will Comet 17P Holmes brighten again? Is an asteroid heading for an impact on a Mars? Who was the founder of amateur astronomy? How amateur are amateur astronomers these days? The very first episode of AstrotalkUK. A discussion between Tony O’Sullivan, Ken Irving, from Salford Astronomical Society and Chris Lord on the state of Amateur Astronomy in the 21st Century. More about Chris on his website at Brayebrook Observatory. Links Asteroid WD5 2007 heading for Mars? MESSENGER’s revealing view of Mercury. History, podcast, Telescope info@astrotalkuk.org no no