Lecture Weds 7th March - “Mars Sample Return technology: development and testing in Antarctica” - Dr Patrick Harkness, Univ of Glasgow

Submitted by iaaadmin on Sat, 2018-03-03 15:30
Dr Patrick Harkness

Planetary drilling is more difficult than drilling on Earth. Low gravity reduces the possible weight-on-bit, and freezing conditions can seize the bit downhole. Furthermore, to reach any depth, it will be necessary to assemble the drillstring in-situ, which is a challenging task for robotic systems.

Lecture Weds 21st February 7:30pm - Erin Higgins (AOP) - "The Life of a Cosmic Rockstar"

Submitted by iaaadmin on Sat, 2018-02-17 14:06
Erin Higgins
The stellar giants of our universe are notorious for their drastic lifestyles : live fast, die young. Burning up to hundreds of times the mass of our Sun, these stars produce the heaviest elements in the natural universe. Though they are born in a stellar nursery like all stars, their violent deaths can shine brighter than entire galaxies. 
 

Lecture, Weds 7th Febuary, 7.30 p.m. "Exploring the end of the Dark Ages" -Dr Stephen Wilkins, (Univ of Sussex)

Submitted by iaaadmin on Sat, 2018-02-03 00:02
Stephen Wilkins
 
In the early Universe the only source of light was that left over from the big bang. As the Universe expanded this light was shifted out of visible wavelengths and the Universe entered the (cosmological) dark ages. The dark ages were brought to an end by the formation of the first stars and super-mass black holes a few hundred million years later. As these first stars died in supernova explosions they likely enriched their surroundings with the heavy elements, ultimately allowing the formation of rocky terrestrial planets and even life. 
 
 

Lecture, Weds 24th January, 7.30 p.m. “The Cassini Mission to Saturn: The End of an Era” - Prof Carl Murray (Queen Mary, Univ of London)

Submitted by iaaadmin on Thu, 2018-01-18 13:02
Prof Carl Murray
 
The Cassini-Huygens mission to the Saturn system ended on 15th September 2017 when, the Cassini spacecraft was deliberately sent into the atmosphere of the planet and destroyed.  
 
It was one of the most successful planetary missions ever launched.  
 

Lecture, Weds 10th January, 7.30 p.m. "Einstein made (relatively) Simple." By Brian MacGabhann (GAC)

Submitted by iaaadmin on Sun, 2017-12-31 15:53
Brian Mac Gabhann
Einstein's Theory of Relativity represents the best and most complete explanation of the way the universe works which we currently have, and underpins all of modern cosmology, astronomy and astrophysics. The talk is aimed very much at the interested lay-person, and no previous knowledge of the topic is required. It will guide the audience through the core building blocks of the theory, and explain how Einstein arrived at the sometimes bizarre conclusions that he did. 
   

IAA New Year Party - Sat 6th January 2018

Submitted by iaaadmin on Sat, 2017-12-30 15:11
Tudor Cinema
The New Year Party will be held as usual in the Tudor Cinema, Drumhirk, Comber on Saturday 6th January 2018. A buffet meal will be available in McBrides the Square, Comber. Food will be served at 6.00pm, but it is advisable to be there at 5.30pm.
 
After the meal, members and guests will then make their way to the nearby Tudor Cinema for the feature film `Hidden Figures’ starting at 7.30pm and followed by a prize quiz.
 

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