Event for HAS Members
Introduction to the Universe - a monthly astronomy talk.

An additional night for members, second Wednesday of each month (except December and January).

Tonight’s Talk

Physics and History; the Earth and the Solar System

Speaker: Nick Odom (from Hamilton Astronomical Society)

We are taught about ancient ways of looking at the universe from a modern perspective. We tend to regard past ideas about the universe as being wrong simply because we think we know better, while ignoring the fact that in past times the whole basis of reasoning was very different from today. This talk explores past world views; it also describes several pioneers who changed the world view, both through observation and also by developing new ideas and concepts.

Searching for Alien Earths
Beatrice Hill Tinsley Lecture 2024

Limited Tickets Available

Tickets for Public $5 (+Eventbrite fee)

We are very fortunate to have Lisa Kaltenegger present "Searching for Alien Earths" in Hamilton, on Saturday 30th March 2024.

Lisa Kaltenegger is the Director of the Carl Sagan Institute for the Search for Life in the Cosmos at Cornell and Associate Professor in Astronomy. She is a pioneer and world-leading expert in modelling potential habitable worlds and their detectable spectral fingerprint. Her research focuses on how to find life on exoplanets circling other stars. Lisa Kaltenegger served among others on the National Science Foundation's Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee that advises the US Congress, and on NASA's senior review of operating missions

She is a Science Team Member of NASA's planet hunting mission, TESS, as well as the NIRISS instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope. Lisa was named one of America’s Young Innovators by Smithsonian Magazine, an Innovator to Watch by TIME Magazine, and was selected as one of the European Commission’s Role Models for Women in Science and Research. Among her international awards are the Lise Meitner Lecture of the German and Austrian Physics Society, the Invited Discourse lecture at the IAU General Assembly in Hawaii, the Heinz Meier Leibnitz Prize for Physics of Germany, the Doppler Prize for Innovation in Science of Austria, and the Barry-Jones Inauguration Award of the Royal Astrobiology Society and Open University in Britain. Her review 2017 on How to Characterize Habitable Worlds and Signs of Life was selected by Annual Reviews as part a collection celebrating pioneering women scientists. She is part of the IMAX 3D movie "The Search for Life in Space" and gives public lectures, e.g. at Aspen Ideas Festival, TED Youth, World Science Festival and the Kavli Foundation lecture at the Adler Planetarium, which was live-streamed to 6 continents. Her book "Alien Earths" will be published on April 16 2024 by MacMillan Press. Asteroid Kaltenegger7734 is named after her.

Lisa will be presenting her work in a lecture titled Searching for Alien Earths, and will no doubt be entertaining and educational to all!

Doors will be open at 7:00pm, with the talk starting at 7:30pm. This will be a fascinating talk which everyone can enjoy. We hope to see you there! Please click below for tickets.

Tickets for Public $5 (+Eventbrite fee)

HAS.

Event for HAS Members
Introduction to the Universe - a monthly astronomy talk.

An additional night for members, second Wednesday of each month (except December and January).

Tonight’s Talk

Establishing a U.S. Base on the Moon: Timing and Challenges

Speaker: Chris Benton (from Auckland Astronomical Society)

There’s now a strong sentiment in the aerospace community and many sectors of society that it’s time humans leave the confines of our planet to explore the Moon and, eventually, Mars. But this time, we mine precious resources and set up long-term bases with the goal of staying. It won’t be easy, won’t be cheap, and will involve creating new technologies. Such an ambitious project carries many other challenges, too, the least of which will be international competition to reach and tap water sources.

This lecture will identify and expose all of the “big picture” challenges to be faced, met, and overcome all within NASA’s incredible 2030 timeline for its Artemis Program.

HAS.

Event for HAS Members
Introduction to the Universe - a monthly astronomy talk.

An additional night for members, second Wednesday of each month (except December and January).

Tonight’s Talk

How we Know our Universe is Expanding.

Speaker: Jonathan Park (From Hamilton Astronomical Society)

We know the universe is expanding - it’s getting bigger and bigger. This means space itself is expanding: space is not only being stretched - new space is coming into existence! How and why is this happening, and how do we know? In this slightly simplified version of the same talk Jonathan gave early in 2022, we will find out how we know this.

Regular Monthly Members/Society night, SECOND Monday of each month.

For Hamilton Astronomical Society members.

Usually starts at 7:30 pm. Earlier start this month as it is the annual HAS BBQ.

This Month: Our annual HAS BBQ. Details to come in February newsletter.

Monthly public night, first Wednesday of each month.

NOTES

• Door sales only (no longer via Eventbrite). Please bring cash, as the observatory may not have EFTPOS available yet.

• Masks are no longer required; however you may wear a mask if you would like to. We respect anyone’s right to wear a mask if they wish to.

HAS.

Event for MEMBERS - Young Astronomers Night.

Tonight starts earlier than usual.

Usually starts at 7:30 pm during daylight saving, and 7:00 pm during winter.

Private Booking (TTST).

HAS.

Regular Monthly Members/Society night, SECOND Monday of each month.

For Hamilton Astronomical Society members.

This Month: Our annual quiz. This is usually a very relaxed evening, where we divide those present into 3 or 4 teams, and teams answer questions over about 6 rounds of 10 questions each.

Monthly public night, first Wednesday of each month.

NOTES

• Door sales only (no longer via Eventbrite). Please bring cash, as the observatory may not have EFTPOS available yet.

• Masks are no longer required; however you may wear a mask if you would like to. We respect anyone’s right to wear a mask if they wish to.

HAS.