AstrotalkUK

Not for profit website/blog on astronomy, space and my writing

Public Talk – Rocket Societies in Liverpool and Manchester in the 1930s

By Leave a Comment

Manchester and Liverpool share a unique history in the development of rocket technology. The desire for spaceflight was promoted by the British Interplanetary Society, founded in Liverpool in 1933 and the Manchester Interplanetary Society in 1936.

They were not unique. Similar societies existed in Germany, Austria, the USA and the USA. There was even a one-man effort in 1934 in India.

In a public talk on Thursday evening 24th March, I will talk about the rise of these societies, the individuals who established them, the impact of World War Two on the development of rocketry after that led to the emergence of the Space Age – Sputnik in 1957 and first human spaceflight, Yuri Gagarin in 1961.

Some of the people who I will speak about are Phil Cleator and Leslie Johnson (founders of the British Interplanetary Society in Liverpool) Eric Burgess (founder of the Manchester Interplanetary Society), Willy Ley (a key player in German rocket society). As well as some early BIS members including Patrick Moore, Arthur C Clarke and Carl Sagan.

The event is organised by the Keighley Astronomical Society and take place in Keighley, Yorkshire starting at 7pm on Thursday 24th March 2022.

BIS HQ in London
MIS Publication – The Astronaut 1937
MIS Member
Stanley Davis
Members of the Manchester Interplanetary Society
Early meeting of the BIS
Plaque unveiled by Tony Lloyde MP
14 May 2012
Philip Turner
his farther Harry Turner was a member of the MIS
From L to R – Tony Cross, Tony Llyode MP, Frank O’Rourke and Alistair Scott
Pioneer Plaque
Inspired by Eric Burgess

Episode 98 Astrophotography with Nik Szymanek

By Leave a Comment

Nik Syzamnek is one of the UK’s leading astrophotographers and one who has been doing it for almost four decades.

Nik Szymanek

In this episode, Nik shares his unique perspective on how the hobby of astronomy and especially astrophotography has evolved since the 1980s when he first started.

We cover a lot of ground including modern software used for image processing and telescope control, increasing use of robotic telescopes e.g. Telescope Live by amateurs and the obstacles introduced by Climate Change and the mega-constellations of satellites. We conclude this episode on his lesser-known skills as a drummer in a band.

Books
2005 – Infinity Rising: A Personal View of the Universe
2018 – Co-author of – Spacerocks: A collectors’ guide to meteorites, tektites and impactites
2020 – Shooting Stars – 2nd Edition (AstronomyNow website)

Nik’s images on Flickr.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:11 — 48.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More

A video of this interview is also available here on Youtube and includes many of his images.

As the lock-down begins to end – Nik is getting out and doing some talks live. If you are in the area – catch him live in 2021 here


2nd November: Stour Astronomical Society
17th November; Havering Astronomical Society twitter.com/HaveringSociety

Episode 49: 17th March 2012: National Astronomy Meeting 2012

By Leave a Comment

This episode has no specific astronomical topic but draws attention to a very special astronomy meeting later this month. The Royal Astronomical Society’s annual National Astronomy Meeting last year was held in Wales, next year it will be in Scotland but this year it is in Manchester. National Astronomy Meeting 2012 or  NAM2012 will be hosted by the University of Manchester in partnership with Germany’s equivalent to the RAS, the Astronomische Gesellschaft in the last week of March 2012. Despite the title it is very much international in nature with professional astronomers attending from USA, Australia and Europe.

I hope be blogging from the meeting, if you are around do stop by and say hello. I plan to record interviews with some of the speakers for future astrotalkuk episodes.

From the evening of Monday 26th March to Friday 30th, the weeklong program has a fascinating and varied schedule including free public talks. Although free – booking online is essential. Some of the  outreach elements include

  • Two public lectures in the evening on Monday and Wednesday – book here
  • Two plenary session talks during each day of the week  between 09:00-10:00 and again between  17:00-18:00 (except Fri 15:45 -16:45). Contact Anna.Mayall@manchester.ac.uk Group booking by astronomical societies are welcomed but should done quickly – its first come first served.
  • A program of talks specifically for A level students. They are day-long event not free but refreshments are included.
  • A unique social event on the  evening of Tuesday 27th  in a city centre pub, an unusual blend of standup comedy and science £3.00 at the door.

In the following recording by telephone Dr Tim O’Brien from Jodrell Bank, explains the background to NAM2012 in Manchester.

Incidentally,  like me, you may enjoy a picture on Tim’s website. No doubt taken during the emmensly successful Stargazing live event earlier this year. It show’s Tim falling asleep in his chair with Dara Obriain looking on with Prof Brian Cox in the background. All the links online in episode 49.  Here’s Tim.

 

Summary of free public talks

Public Lectures

  1. Mon 26th March 8pm All from Nothing : The Structuring of Our Universe Prof. Simon White
  2. Wed 28th March 8pm The Juno Mission to Jupiter: What’s Inside the Giant Planet?  Prof. Fran Bagenal

Plenary Session Lectures

  1. Tue 27th March 9am-10am The Square Kilometre Array Michael Kramer
  2. Tue 27th March 5pm-6pm Probing the interior of Jupiter: NASA’s Juno mission Fran Bagenal
  3. Wed 28th March 9am-10am Frontiers in gravitational lensing Peter Schneider
  4. Wed 28th March 5pm-6pm The protocloud and the large-scale environment of galaxies Joss Bland-Hawthorn
  5. Thu 29th March 9am-10am Wonders of the solar atmosphere Alan Hood
  6. Thu 29th March 5pm-6pm Astrophotography Nik Szymanek
  7. Fri 30th March 9am-10am Catching Shadows: Kepler’s Year-Three Exoplanet Census Natalie Batalha
  8. Fri 30th March 3:45pm-4:45pm Cosmology in our backyard

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More