IYA2009 'UNDER THE STARS' SUMMER LECTURE
What do we know about the Universe?
SUMMARY:
In this talk I will outline what astronomers now know about the universe - its age, size, constituents, history, and its ultimate fate.
I will describe how we know these things - what the evidence is, and the telescopes, satellites, and other technological advances
that make this possible. I will also summarise all the things we still don't know about the universe - what is the dark matter? what
is the even more mysterious dark energy? what was the origin of the Big Bang? I will conclude with a discussion of the future prospects
for answering these questions, and what we ultimately can know about the universe.
LECTURER:
Professor Matthew Colless, FAA
Director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Sydney
Matthew Colless is an astronomer who works on observational cosmology, studying the large-scale structure of the universe in order to understand its formation and evolution. He is Director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory and Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Sydney. After completing undergraduate studies at Sydney, he obtained a PhD at the University of Cambridge and held research positions at the US National Optical Astronomy Observatories, the Universities of Durham and Cambridge and the Australian National University, before taking up his current role. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and Chair of the National Committee for Astronomy. He is involved in organising the International Year of Astronomy in Australia.
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| Caption: Artist's conception of the regions observed in the 2dF project.
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| DATE: |
Friday 6th March |
| TIME: |
8:30pm |
| LOCATION: |
Observatory back lawn (alternate venue if raining) 337 Walnut Rd, Bickley |
| ALTERNATE VENUE: |
(in case of rain or high wind) Lesmurdie
Senior High School - call Perth Observatory to confirm |
| COST: |
$7/person (Admission fees are used to assist us with production costs) |
| BOOKING ESSENTIAL: |
Ticket numbers are limited
Please call the Observatory on 9293 8255 with your credit card handy,
or send a check or postal note with covering letter to: Summer Lecture,
Perth Observatory, 337 Walnut Rd, Bickley 6076 by Wednesday 28th March,
2007. |
Here are some more details to assist you enjoy the summer lecture.
• Please note the lecture is conducted in the open air, gates open 2 hours before lecture,
• Bring a chair and insect repellent,
• Feel free to bring a picnic dinner, no drinks or food will be
provided,
• Please use the rubbish bins provided,
• No refunds will be given,
• Parents must exert strict control over the children under their
supervision for the obvious safety reasons and in order not to distract
the speaker and/or spoil the occasion for other attendees,
• Parking at the Observatory is limited so try to minimise the number
of cars in your party,
• For your own safety and convenience please follow the directions of
the Observatory staff, parking marshals and security officers,
• In the interests of safety, and because of the limited number of staff,
NO tour of the Observatory facilities will be possible before, during
or after the lecture, and
• Smoking is prohibited at the Observatory.
