Hedgerley Historical Society
We return after the Christmas break on Wednesday 18th January 2017 when Professor Heather Couper and Professor Nigel Henbest will present
The Secret Life of Space
Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest reveal the true stories of the pioneers and mavericks who have unravelled the mysteries of the Cosmos .
In this highly illustrated presentation , Heather and Nigel investigate the key breakthroughs and discoveries in mankind ’ s long quest to understand the Universe . As well as shedding new light on old mysteries , they debunk many urban myths of astronomy - and also highlight the essential role of mavericks such as Fred Hoyle and the Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky .
Starting with the recent discovery that Stonehenge was actually built to celebrate the winter solstice rather than the summer , Heather and Nigel take a lively canter through history to reveal that the first computer was constructed by the ancient Greeks two millennia ago ; that the telescope was not invented by Galileo ; and that black holes and the Big Bang weren ’ t predicted by Einstein ( he didn ’ t actually believe in either ) but by two different clergymen .
After the stunning results of New Horizon mission , they explore the controversy over Pluto ’ s status as a planet ; along with results from Mars - long ignored by NASA - suggesting there ’ s life on the Red Planet .
Finally , they check out the latest in the long quest for intelligent life on alien worlds . Based on Heather and Nigel ’ s book of the same name , this presentation is a homage to the astronomers throughout history who broke all the rules , to lay bare the Secret Life of Space . Heather Couper was the President of the British Astronomical Assoc . from 1984-86 . In 2008 she presented Cosmic Quest , a 30 part series on the history of Astronomy for BBC Radio 4 . She was awarded the CBE for services to science in 2007 . Nigel
Henbest is a leading science writer having written 40 books and is Astronomy Consultant for New Scientist magazine . A respected commentator on human spaceflight , he is signed up as a future astronaut with virgin galactic .
Monthly Meetings of Hedgerley Historical Society take place at Hedgerley Memorial Hall , Kiln Lane Hedgerley SL2 3UZ at 8pm and visitors are most welcome . Further details from John Lovelock 01753 647187 jdlovelock @ btinternet . com
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