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Craters, Collisions and Catastrophes
Dr Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer, Royal Observatory Greenwich

Marek_ROG
  • Sunday 15 June 2014, 3.00PM to 4.00pm
  • Free admission
    Booking required
  • The Auditorium, Ron Cooke Hub, University of York (map|getting to campus)

Event details

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Sparks, a series of events aimed to spark children’s imagination. Sparks is supported by Shepherds.

Wherever we look in the Solar System we find that planets and moons are littered with craters blasted out by the impact of comets and asteroids. But can these giant space rocks ever hit the Earth - and what happens when they do? Dr Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, describes some of the biggest explosions in the history of our Solar System and looks at how we might try to prevent them in future.

About the speaker:

Marek completed his doctorate in Radio Astronomy at Jodrell Bank Observatory and carried out research into black holes and distant galaxies at a variety of astronomy centres, including the University of Edinburgh and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, home of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. As Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich his role is to ensure that the Observatory’s exhibitions, planetarium shows and events programme accurately reflect the latest findings in astronomy and to help to explain new discoveries in space to the public and media.

Related Links

www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/

Follow @marekkukula on Twitter

Join colleagues from the University of York's Department of Physics for a interactive exhibition.  Tour the night skies in our Cosmodome - an inflatable planetarium - and explore the inside of a fusion reactor in the 3Sixty - a fully immersive cinema projecting on all four walls. Chat to current researchers to find out about cutting edge research, or bring the whole family and enjoy hands-on activities for all ages

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