GAC March Meeting with Colin Steele (University of Manchester)
March 2 @ 7:30 pm
Galway Astronomy Club are pleased to announce details of our March club meeting, which will take place at 7.30 pm on Monday the 2nd of March in the Ardilaun Hotel, Taylors Hill, Galway.
Talk: ‘The solar neighbourhood – a guide to the nearest stars’
The area of the galaxy where the Sun currently resides can be considered as a fairly typical area of the galaxy. This talk will consider the stars within 5 parsecs of the Sun, concentrating on those with particular characteristics e.g. the Alpha Centauri and Sirius systems, Barnard’s star and the home of Mr Spock from Star Trek. The talk is not so much of a list as an opportunity to mention many of the characteristics of stars. Woven into the talk are references to measuring distances to stars and the appearance of the Sun and other stars from the stars concerned. The talk will conclude with some thoughts on the status of the Sun in the neighbourhood and the Galaxy.
Speaker: Colin Steele (University of Manchester)
Inspired by early events including Apollo Moon landings.
Bought small telescope 1972.
Joined Dundee AS, 1978.
Studied Mathematics and Astronomy and Astrophyics, St Andrews University, 1982-1986.
PhD in Applied Mathematics (Dynamics of Solar Prominences), 1986-1990.
Teaching of Mathematics to students in many parts of University of Manchester, since 1993.
Studies into Equilibria and Stability of Structures in solar atmosphere Dynamics of orbits of Trojan Asteroids.
Observations of e.g. Meteors, Noctilucent Clouds etc.
Joined Dundee AS, 1978. BAA 1985, Many other societies. Member of IAU.
Active in BAA Meteor section mid-1980s onwards Scottish Astronomers Group President 1991-1993
Speaker at various astronomical societies.
Currently resident in Dore, Sheffield. Married with 2 youngsters.
All are welcome and we look forward to your company.