an astro-chat with
Professor Don Kurtz
Visiting Professor, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Lincoln, UK
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
7:00-8:00 pm
Live online
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Everyone is taught as a child that the Sun is 150 million km away from the Earth. But how do we know that? Have a look at the Sun at sunset sometime. Is it obvious to you how far away it is? The Sun is ½ o in angular size, but then so is the Moon, which is only 384,000 km away. So, we cannot determine the distance to the Sun from just looking at it. Finding its distance was the major scientific challenge of the 18th century. I will tell you a story involving a stone tower, a dungeon, a Great Dane, a hypochondriac, Shakespeare, a child prodigy, a genius, sea battles and voyages of discovery, royal observatories, a clockmaker, a gentleman returned from the dead, and even Dixieland jazz.
This is our 18th Astro-Chat with our distinguished guest Professor Don Kurtz. The session will include a brief illustrated introduction followed by questions and answers. Members of the public will be able to ask questions in the live-chat. The event is hosted by Professor Andrei Zvelindovsky, Head of the School of Maths & Physics at the University of Lincoln, UK.
Science views 
Thank you for putting on these events – Prof. Kurtz is a brilliant speaker and superb storyteller.