Want to know more about astronomy? Want to learn how to observe? Want to know what's currently in the sky?

Programme

Want to know more about astronomy? Want to see the wonders of the Universe?

Provisional Programme of events:

10:00 - 10:15 Welcome

10:15 - 11:00 Talk 1: Dr William Chaplin "Music of the Sun"

11:00 - 11:15 Break, exhibition stands (in coffee lounge)

11:15 - 13:00 Activity session 1 - see below for options

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch, there are a variety of options around campus, more info below. Exhibition stands (in coffee lounge)

14:00 - 14:45 Talk 2: Dr Somak Raychaudhury "Einstein's Outrageous Legacy - Black Holes, Cosmic Illusions and Dark Energy"

14:45 - 15:00 Break, exhibition stands (in coffee lounge)

15:00 - 16:45 Activity session 2 - see below for options

16:45 - 17:15 Concluding remarks, winners...

Activity sessions:

Making Rockets - Fundamentals of how rockets work and building an air rocket

Making a telescope - How did Galileo do it? Learn how to build a simple refracting telescope

Night Sky Tour in a mobile planetarium - What's up tonight? How do you find the North star? Is that really a planet?

Landing on Mars - How do spacecraft land on other planets? Can you build a craft... and save the egg?

Departmental Tour - The Astrophysics and Space Research Group here at the University of Birmingham has a rich history of space flight, learn more about the department.

Exhibition Stands: During the day there will be a number of exhibition and trade stands. There will also be a raffle.

Lunch Options: The University campus offers a wide range of selections of food, from sandwich shops (the is a Subway/Spar in the Guild of Students) to cooked meals (Avanti at University Centre). The University is also a five minute walk away from Selly Oak where you will find a vast range of restaurants and take outs.

Event Location: The day will be taking place in the Poynting Physics Building (R13 on the University map), the talks will take place in the Large Lecture Theatre (S02). Directions to the University can be found on the University's visitor information pages and a campus map can be found here.