Heaven on Earth: is astronomy missing something?   Science in the Pub Number 65 With panelists Alan Wright and Andre Phillips Compered by Fred Watson 7.00 – 9.00 pm, Friday 26 October, 2001 Imperial Hotel, John Street, Coonabarabran, NSW Science in the Pub takes a look at what we might be missing in our quest to understand the Universe. Modern astrophysics has a lot to tell us about the origin and evolution of the Universe: its size, age, even its eventual fate. But are there cosmological secrets hidden right under our nose here on Earth? And is our long-distance view of things really as accurate as we'd like to believe? Dr Andre Phillips, an astronomer and atmospheric scientist from the UNSW (now based here in Coonabarabran), and Dr Alan Wright, a well-known astrophysicist from the Parkes Observatory, will discuss these and other current topics in astronomy. And to keep it all 'in house', Dr Fred Watson, Astronomer-in-Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory, will be our special guest compere. Fred is well known to SciPub followers as a panellist and compere for a number of sessions over the past three years and was also one of the stars of our Science in the Pub goes Outback programs, Starry Starry Night and Science meets the Arts. You might even find yourself being serenaded by the famous Fred as he croons (or croaks!) his cosmic compositions whilst accompanying himself on the guitar. Alan Wright worked in theoretical and radio astronomy in both England and Canada before coming to Australia, nearly 30 years ago. For most of this time he has been the Principal Astronomer at the Parkes Radio Observatory and has also served as a staff member of the Anglo-Australian Observatory. Alan's past and present research work includes the study of how stars form, how galaxies collide, investigating quasars at the edge of the universe, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life. In 1982 he was the co-discoverer of the most distant known object in the universe. More recently, Alan has led and initiated two major new surveys of the whole of the southern skies at radio wavelengths. In his spare time, Alan is very involved with the amateur theatre, watercolour painting, writing, recreational walking, golf and arguing – at none of which, but the last he says, is he any good. Andre Phillips currently works at Siding Spring Mountain for the University of New South Wales, helping with the automatic upgrade of the UNSW Automated Patrol Telescope, and with the establishment of the new ROTSE automatic telescope. But most of Andre's professional career has been associated with Antarctica and the Arctic, and he has spent over four years located on the Antarctic continent. After completing a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics with Adelaide University in 1990, Andre moved to Canada and continued atmospheric studies there. After spending a year living on a British Antarctic Base in 1995, he then became involved with the UNSW's Antarctic Astronomy program, and has been spending chilly summers located at the South Geographic Pole ever since. During 1998 he also worked for the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, engaged in a project to fly an atmospheric science instrument aboard a NASA U-2 [scientific] spy plane. Closer to the ground in Australia, he has occasionally been seen frightening the passengers aboard various light aircraft he is piloting. True to the tradition of Science in the Pub, Alan and Andre have written their abstracts in verse. By an amazing coincidence, they have chosen identical themes–with plenty of 'in' jokes! These guys are clearly soulmates Alan laments the demise of an ancient particle of light: Ode to a Dead Photon A photon from Z equals four Was shot from a QSO's core It flashed across space At a hell of a pace But arrived when the weather was poor "I've been going for 10 Giga years" It said to itself, through its tears "And all my info Will end up, I know Down the drain, with these Astro-Drunk's beers!" And from Andre, a lengthier account of the same event, written by John Storey: The Two-Micron Photon Little photon, warm and soft You've come to us from far aloft. An HI atom was your Mamma (She used to call you Brackett gamma). But now a million years have passed - How time flies when you go fast! Your long wavelength made chances good You'd make it through galactic mud. Indeed you dodged the gas and dust; Your motto was, "The Earth or bust!" No way would silicates defect you, The way they did your friends in blue. Your little heart was filled with fear As you plunged into our atmosphere "Holy cow!" you cried out loud; "It's Siding Spring - but where's the cloud?!" At last your journey's end was here - The AAT was looming near. Boinng! Off the mirror! Up you go, To secondary, then down below. Yes, ATAC, with outstanding foresight, Have I.R.P.S. on tonight. (And certainly it was heroic The way you bounced off the dichroic.) Your're glad the window's made of sapphire (Glass really would have raised your ire.) Indeed it's hard to keep from gloating: Such luxury - an AR coating. Through apertures, and then - oh, phew! The CVF was set for you. Your journey over - suicide In indium antimonide. But onwards does your soul continue, Electrically - you had it in you. Ignoble fate for such a martyr To end up in the interdata. We missed you, too - where were we? We'd slipped outside to have a pee. Science in the Pub™ is the Eureka Award winning initiative of the Australian Science Communicators (NSW). Regular sessions are generally staged from 7-9pm on the last Wednesday of every even month (February - October) at the Harlequin Inn, 152 Harris Street, Pyrmont in Sydney.   Admission costs $5 worth of raffle tickets, your chance to win one of many excellent prizes! We can organise Science in YOUR Pub anywhere in Australia, or the world, when commissioned! Please contact Robyn Stutchbury, phone: 02 9427 6747; fax: 02 9427 6767; email: Robyn Stutchbury on rstutch@bigpond.net.au.  Visit our website at http://www.scienceinthepub.com/. Future Science in the Pub sessions (see the website for full details):
Science in the Pub™, © 2000. Stutchbury, R, Burton, M.