First International live  “World AstroCast”

The first World AstroCast was held on the 13th of October at 8-00pm. The event was a debate concerning the current state of Cosmology between Dr Robert Lambourne and John Dobson the celebrity telescope creator, and public educator. Mr Dobson was speaking from San Francisco, and Dr Lambourne was located in Northampton, England.

The event was hosted by the Northamptonshire Natural History Society –Astronomy Section (NNHS), and organised by Michael Finney.  The debate took place for over an hour, with the audience in Northampton seeing and listening to John Dobson in action via a “live” video link. The debate was simultaneously broadcast to members of the following Astronomical organisations: Astronomical Association of Queensland, Australia, Irish Astronomical Association, Auckland Astronomical Society, New Zealand, and the Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers, India.

 It is asserted that this event is the first time that amateur astronomers from around the world have been able to stage a simultaneous multinational meeting of this nature allowing verbal questions from the audience to the presenters. Next year it is hoped to extend both the scope and number of recipients of World AstroCast , scheduled for Spring 2008.

For more information please contact Michael Finney (NNHS Astronomy section)

Telephone number +44 (0) 121 378 5068, email nnhs_astronomy@yahoo.co.uk

 SKYPE address michael.finney1 (michaeldotfinney1)

  Address:

Northamptonshire Natural History Society

The Humfrey Rooms, 10 Castilian Terrace, Northampton, NN1 1LD, England

Background:

The Northamptonshire Natural History Society was founded in 1876 by George Claridge Druce - a leading botanist of the day. The first meeting was held in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall in Northampton and was chaired by Lord Lilford, the great Victorian ornithologist. Lord Lilford went on to serve as President of the Society from 1876 to 1896.

From the very beginning, the Society welcomed naturalists and scientists from all walks of life. Social, political and theological barriers were breached, and the membership included working men and women, clerics, businessmen, lawyers, doctors, architects and others of the 'professional' class, and such eminent names as Earl Spencer, Charles Darwin, Thomas Huxley, Joseph Hooker, Nathaniel Rothschild, Sir Herewald Wake, V.D. Cary-Elwes and Lady Knightley of Fawsley.

The Society - now in its 131st year - continues to promote interest and research into natural history and allied sciences, especially relating to Northamptonshire, and consists of a number of Sections dealing with archaeology and history, astronomy, geology, natural sciences and photography.

John Dobson:

John Dobson has been called the "Pied Piper of Astronomy," the "Star Monk," and the "MacGuyver of Astronomy." He is arguably one the most influential personalities in amateur astronomy in the last 50 years. He has almost single-handedly revolutionised backyard astronomy by bringing it out to the street, making it accessible for anyone who has ever looked up in wonder, and asked "Why?"

With no "profession" and an overwhelming desire to show the night sky, John decided to dedicate his life to public service astronomy in San Francisco and the world. Thousands of people have looked through telescopes while John talked to them in detail about what they were seeing.

Dr. Robert Lambourne:

Dr Lambourne graduated from Queen Mary College, London with a PhD in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics. He went on to teach in the University of Durham Maths Dept. For the last twenty eight years he has worked on a variety of courses and projects at the Open University. During 2002 till 2005 he held the chair of the Physics dept. He is currently Director of the Physics Innovations, Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Dr Lambourne has written a large number of books and articles including: “An introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology”, Cambridge Univ. Press (2004) an account of the “Big Bang.”