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| 13-Nov | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell - My life with pulsars Bredhurst Village Hall  GET YOUR TICKET In this talk, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell tells the story of how she discovered pulsars, and of the obstacles she overcame along the way. From being sent to cookery class instead of science in 1950s Northern Ireland, to being the only woman in a Glasgow lecture theatre of 50, she describes building a career in physics as an outsider. Back at Cambridge in the 1960s, convinced she didn’t deserve her place, she worked with exceptional thoroughness, and so spotted signals that fitted no existing explanation. That anomaly became a new type of star, and pulsar research has since transformed physics, from Einstein’s predictions to black-hole mergers. At the heart of the talk is a simple argument: diversity makes science better. People from non-traditional backgrounds are less likely to make the traditional assumptions, and that openness is how breakthroughs happen. The data didn’t fit, she says, and neither did she. ENTRY ONLY BY ADVANCE PURCHASE OF TICKETS SPEAKER DETAILSDame Jocelyn Bell Burnell  Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell is an astrophysicist who is best known as the person who discovered pulsars while a radio astronomy graduate student in Cambridge for which her supervisor, Prof. Antony Hewish was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1974 (shared with Martin Ryle). She has subsequently worked in gamma ray, X-ray, infrared and millimetre wavelength astronomy. Dame Jocelyn is a Visiting Academic in the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics. She has received many Honorary Doctorates for her work and multiple awards from organisations in the UK and abroad. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2003 and has received their Michael Faraday Prize (2010), the Royal Medal (2015) and Copley Medal (2021). A member of 7 Academies worldwide, she was the first female President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, as well as of the Institute of Physics. Amongst other posts she has held have been that of Chancellor of the University of Dundee from 2018-2023 and President of the Royal Astronomical Society from 2002-2004. She champions the work of female scientists and used the money received from being awarded the US Breakthrough Prize in 2018 to set up the Institute of Physics’ Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund since she is convinced bringing people from a wider range of backgrounds into physics will improve research. | |
| 27-Nov | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Louise Devoy - The Royal Observatory Greenwich: a History in Objects Bredhurst Village Hall  In this presentation, curator and author Louise Devoy will explore the rich legacy of the Royal Observatory Greenwich through a selection of fascinating objects, themes and personal stories. From the intricacy of John Harrison’s revolutionary timekeepers to the impressive scale of the Great Equatorial Telescope, each item demonstrates the Observatory’s achievements in pioneering astronomy, innovative engineering, accurate time distribution and collaborative scientific projects. Together they chart the development of the Observatory from its founding in 1675 to its growing influence on travel, trade and communication that continues to underpin our lives today. Louise will have copies of her book Royal Observatory Greenwich: A History in Objects available for purchase after her talk. SPEAKER DETAILSLouise Devoy  Louise has a background in astrophysics and the history of science and has worked at various museums in the UK and abroad. Her research interests encompass astronomical instruments, women in astronomy and networks of knowledge exchange between historic observatories. Over the past five years Louise has delved into the archives and museum stores to choose 100 objects and their stories for her book Royal Observatory Greenwich: A History in Objects ,published to celebrate the Observatory’s 350th anniversary in 2025. | |
| 11-Dec | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Christmas Social Bredhurst Village Hall  A chance for Members and their guests to relax, chat and enjoy each other's company at our annual Christmas Social. No entry charge plus a complimentary raffle ticket for each Member on arrival with an array of prizes to be won. We will provide refreshments but you may want to bring along your own wine or beer (or perhaps something stronger) if you wish and aren't driving. Please also bring your own festive food to share with everyone. Sausage rolls and any other savoury items and mince pies can be warmed up in the kitchen. There will be an optional paper-based Quiz and Dingbats to go alongside the usual eating, drinking and chat. We look forward to seeing you in your party hats to get the festive season underway. | |
| 08-Jan-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Observing / Discussion Evening **ALL WEATHER EVENT** Bredhurst Village Hall  This evening will be devoted to observing. Members are encouraged to bring their telescopes to set up in the field behind the Village Hall, and those who do not have their own telescope will be able to look at the night sky (weather permitting!) using the Society's equipment. Experienced members of the Society will be available to assist with any set-up problems you may have. In the event that the sky is not clear the meeting will go ahead and a recorded lecture will be shown followed by an open discussion session. PLEASE NOTE: Members bringing their own telescopes do so at their own risk. MKAS accepts no liability for loss or damage to such equipment. | |
| 29-Jan-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Will Joyce - Minor Members of the Solar System: Comets, Asteroids and Dwarf Planets. Bredhurst Village Hall  Continuing the series of talks touring the inner planets, the outer planets and the major moons of our Solar System, this talk focuses on much smaller objects, asteroids, comets and dwarf planets. Thee is a vast variety of these ancient objects in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and they are very important to understanding the formation and evolution of our Solar System. Many space missions have, and are, being flown to a variety of these fascinating and diverse objects, returning spectacular imagery and important scientific results. SPEAKER DETAILSWilliam Joyce  Bringing astronomy and space to the public is William Joyce's passion. He has been fascinated by astronomy since the age of six, and enjoys sharing the wonders of the cosmos with the public, amateur and expert astronomers, and schools. William has spent time as an astrophysicist, a spacecraft engineer, and until recently a planetary scientist. He provides outreach talks and short courses for astronomy societies, the public, schools and special events in the UK, overseas, and on-board cruise ships. He is a Chartered Physicist and a STEM Ambassador. William is always delighted to share his enthusiasm for astronomy and diverse knowledge and experience with people of all ages and backgrounds who wish to learn more about fascinating areas of modern science, so please do ask him any burning questions you have on anything to do with space. | |
| 12-Feb-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - The Big Fun General Knowlege Quiz Night Bredhurst Village Hall  Open to all! Details to follow. | |
| 26-Feb-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Peter Bassett - MKAS & the butterfly effect Bredhurst Village Hall  A small unseemingly event can cause, in time, a huge alteration in future events. Peter will give several examples of personal MKAS related events that have resulted in new careers, marriages etc... SPEAKER DETAILSPeter Bassett  Peter has studied Spaceflight & Astronomy from the age of five after seeing the Apollo 8 mission live on TV orbiting the moon for the first time in 1968. After a tour of the USA in 1992, he was inspired to set up a planetarium business teaching the subject up to A level. Peter also gives public lectures around the country including 'Are we Alone?' & 'Satellite Spotting from your garden'. He has performed in over 2000 different venues. | |
| 12-Mar-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Greg Smye-Rumsby - Game Changers : a personal view of the speaker’s life Bredhurst Village Hall  A personal view of my life in astronomy. Born in 1953 I have seen many life changing events in astronomy, astronautics and cosmology. Today, I work at the Royal Observatory delivering workshops and planetarium shows, but my passion for everything celestial started even before Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon. SPEAKER DETAILSGreg Smye-Rumsby  Greg Smye-Rumsby has essentially two astronomical careers. Firstly, as a specialist planetarium presenter for the Royal Observatory Greenwich. This consists of presenting planetarium shows to schools and public alike but also providing teaching artworks and slides for the many school and public courses. He has also been asked to cover corporate evenings, TV presentations and provide engaging discourses for the ROG winter programme ‘An Evening with the Stars’. Secondly, Greg is a supplier of diagrams and celestial maps for Astronomy Now magazine and has also written a few articles occasionally. | |
| 26-Mar-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Observing / Discussion Evening **ALL-WEATHER EVENT** Bredhurst Village Hall This evening will be devoted to observing. Members are encouraged to bring their telescopes to set up in the field behind the Village Hall, and those who do not have their own telescope will be able to look at the night sky (weather permitting!) using the Society's equipment. Experienced members of the Society will be available to assist with any set-up problems you may have. In the event that the sky is not clear the meeting will go ahead and a recorded lecture will be shown followed by an open discussion session. PLEASE NOTE: Members bringing their own telescopes do so at their own risk. MKAS accepts no liability for loss or damage to such equipment. | |
| 09-Apr-2027 | MKAS 50th Anniversary AGM Bredhurst Village Hall  DETAILS TO FOLLOW | |
| 30-Apr-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Jeni Millard - The Drake Equation: Is Anybody There? Bredhurst Village Hall  Abstract to follow. SPEAKER DETAILSDr Jeni Millard  Jeni Millard is an astrophysicist and science communicator and Hon. President of the Barry Astronomical Society. She was awarded her Ph.D. by Cardiff University in 2021. Her thesis was entitled 'The stuff between the stars: on the evolution of the interstellar medium in the real and simulated universe'. While continuing her research during the pandemic/lockdown she became increasing interested in sharing her passion for astronomy with a wider audience and became writer and host of the popular 'Awesome Astronomy' podcast. She is also Managing Editor of Fifth Star Labs 'Sky Guide' App and is a science presenter for BBC1 Wales 'Weatherman Walking' series. Other than astronomy, Jeni's interests include films and exploring places in the U.K. | |
| 14-May-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Prof.Eloise Marais - Impact of Rocket Launch and Space Debris Air Pollutant Emissions on Stratospheric Ozone & Global Clima Bredhurst Village Hall  Abstract to follow. | |
| 28-May-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Prof. David Rees - A BepiColombo Mission Update Bredhurst Village Hall  Abstract to follow. SPEAKER DETAILSProf David Rees  Prof David Rees has designed and built instruments for NASA, ESA, JAXA and other space organisations around the world. He designed and largely built the MSASI instrument that is part of the Bepi-Colombo payload that ESA/JAXA launched successfully toward Mercury in October 2018. David was for many years Emeritus Professor of Astrophysics at Utah State University, USA. He has a network of contacts that include some of the biggest names in astrophysics and therefore he is up to date on all the latest theories and research. David is also conducting leading edge research on our atmosphere using his sophisticated LIDAR system. He uses LiDAR systems from Salehurst in Sussex to undertake cutting-edge research into the Earth's atmosphere and the wind, also atmospheric particulates like dust from the Sahara. David is currently working on the Aeolus Calibration / Validation Programme for the Aeolus wind-measuring Lidar Satellite launched by ESA in August 2018. David is an active member of MKAS and regularly observes using a 16inch ODK from his back garden in Sussex, under some of the darkest skies in the UK. He is a keen cricketer and plays regularly for the Kent Seniors team. | |
| 11-Jun-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - David Southwood - Topic TBC Bredhurst Village Hall SPEAKER DETAILSProf David Southwood CBE  David was formerly the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency (2001-2011) and President of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) 2012-2014. He received a CBE in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours. Before going to ESA, he was a space scientist at Imperial College, London. At ESA, he oversaw building and launching spacecraft to Venus, Mars and the Moon as well as the Rosetta probe with lander Philae to comet Churymuov-Gerasimenko, in addition to several major space telescopes. He led the team that landed a European probe on Saturn's largest moon Titan in 2005. An instrument he built at Imperial operated in orbit around the planet Saturn aboard the NASA Cassini spacecraft from 2004-2017. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal and won the 2011 Sir Arthur C. Clarke award for space achievement. He was chairman of the Steering Board of the UK Space Agency 2016-2019. He is currently a senior research investigator at Imperial College. | |
| 25-Jun-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Speaker & Topic TBC Bredhurst Village Hall | |
| 09-Jul-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Meeting - Speaker & Topic TBC Bredhurst Village Hall | |
| 30-Jul-2027 | MKAS Anniversary Finale - Summer Social - MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ONLY Bredhurst Village Hall  This event is for MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ONLY We will have a barbeque lit ready for you to cook the food you bring along. We will provide some salads, burger rolls and ketchup, but feel free to bring along some accompaniments and desserts to share. Tea, coffee and some cordials will be available in the kitchen, but please bring along any other drinks / alcohol you wish to have. There will be a quiz and music to add to the occasion. There will be no admission charge for Members. |
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