10th Jun

N/A

"The Moon for all Mankind"

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first manned Moon landing, the IYA organising committee in Malta will produce a mosaic of the full Moon, 1.25 m in diameter, made from images supplied by different countries. The final image will be distributed to all the participating countries. Australia has been allocated section 8 of the Moon to image, and your photo could be the one chosen as Australia's contribution! Details of the project are at http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/203/.

How to participate:

• Photograph the specified section of the Moon when it is brightly lit. The image can extend beyond the borders of the section.
• Make a jpeg file, 500 pixels wide, of your image. This is just for judging purposes: a high-resolution image will be used for the final mosaic.
• Send the file to Helen Sim, at iya@aao.gov.au, by Wednesday 10 June.

The images will be judged (anonymously) by astrophotographer David Malin. We will then ask the lucky winner to forward a high-resolution image. The image doesn't have to be a new one: you might have a suitable one in hand already. Best of luck with the weather, and I look forward to those photos.

30th Jun
(VIC)

7pm

"What we do and don't know about comets"

Free public lecture by Paul Francis, followed by astronomical viewing

Tuesday 30th June 2009 7pm Lecture Theatre C1, Building 63, Monash Clayton campus

A few times every year, comets wander into our solar system, out from the vast darkness beyond Pluto. Where do they come from? And why do they come to visit us? We don’t know, though there are several wild theories, some involving vast rings containing trillions of orbiting ice-blocs, or whole families of planets hundreds of times further out than Pluto. In this public lecture, Dr Paul Francis will review these mysteries, and the enduring puzzle of what might lurk in the vast, dark, unexplored reaches between Pluto and the nearest stars.

Following this public lecture, the Astronomical Society of Victoria and Monash University will run a public astronomical viewing session (weather permitting). This will take place at 8pm, on the top level of the multi-storey car park at the north west corner of the Clayton Campus. It could be very cold outdoors, so please bring warm clothing with you

Dr Paul Francis is one of Australia's most versatile astronomers, working on comets in our Solar System, "blobs" of gas forming new galaxies, and untangling the spectra of powerful quasars. He has also developed new and engaging ways of teaching astronomy to students and the general public.

Bookings recommended - please contact Doris Herft at the School of Mathematical Sciences, email Doris.Herft@sci.monash.edu.au