Isle of Wight What's On Guide: 2024 Events OnTheWight

Astronomy Presentation

Friday 26 7.30pmNovember
2021

Talk

Virtual / Online

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Astronomy Presentation

Source http://www.wightastronomy.org

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Martin Lunn, FRAS, MBE – “John Goodricke and Edward Pigott the ‘Fathers of Variable Star Astronomy’”

About the Talk: They were an odd couple. John Goodricke was deaf and unable to speak, and Edward Pigott dressed like a dandy, but for a brief moment in time from 1781-1786 they changed the face of astronomy. They discovered stars that changed in brightness and explained why this happened. Goodricke would die before his twenty-second birthday and both their lives could have been written into a soap opera. This is the story of the Fathers of Variable Star Astronomy.

About the Speaker: Martin Lunn studied for his degree in astrophysics whilst working as a guard on British Rail in the 1970s. From 1989 until 2011 he was Curator of Astronomy at the Yorkshire Museum in York, and in 1998 was presented with an MBE for services to astronomy and education. Martin is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and currently sits on the council. He also presents lectures on cruise ships all over the world, and to various clubs and societies at home. He used to have a monthly astronomy feature on BBC Radio York and now has his own weekly Astronomy Show on a community radio station called Drystone Radio, which can be heard on line (Shows | Drystone Radio). Martin also writes a monthly ‘What’s in the night sky?’ feature for the Craven Herald newspaper which covers the Yorkshire Dales.

About Vectis Astronomical Society: The Vectis Astronomical Society meets on the 4th Friday of every month, except for December. This event will be presented on-line (Zoom) only. It will be free to VAS members and non-members are welcome to join - please follow the link to the ticketing site (Eventbrite) to make a donation. Please do not come to the Newchurch Observatory - this talk will be on Zoom only.