2022 July 04
Special Colloquium: “Milestones in South African Astronomy” presented by Dr. Ian Glass
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of ASSA, Ian will talk about the major astronomical events and discoveries in Southern Africa from the visit of Nicolas-Louis de la Caille in 1751 to the MeerKAT radio telescope today. He will include, for example, the founding of the Cape Observatory and its scientific achievements, other old observatories in South Africa, and the development of the Sutherland observatory in the Karoo. In recent times, new wavelength regions have become critically important, from radio to gamma-rays, often with the help of satellites.
Ian Glass studied at Trinity College Dublin and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has worked at MIT, Caltech, the Royal Greenwich Observatory and SAAO, besides spending shorter periods at various observatories worldwide. He has published extensively on infrared astronomy and is currently mainly interested in astronomical history. He is the author of six books.
Before the colloquium, light welcome snacks and beverages will be served, and there will be an optional screening of the planetarium film ‘Rising Star’ (see details below). Please arrive by at least 16:50 if you also wish to watch the film.
DATE: Friday 1 July, main presentation from 17:30 to 18:30 SAST
VENUE: The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome.
25 Queen Victoria St, Gardens, Cape Town (Entrance via main Iziko SA museum entrance)
SCHEDULE: 16:30 Welcome snacks and drinks on arrival
17:00 – 17:25 Guests can continue to mingle or attend the screening of the planetarium film Rising Star
17:30 – 18:30 Special Colloquium: “Milestones in South African Astronomy” by Dr. Ian Glass (also live streamed on YouTube)
2022 July 28
Watch Ian’s talk on YouTube: Milestones in South African Astronomy