Macarthur Astronomy Forum

Macarthur Astronomy Forum

Formation	21 February 2011
Purpose	Promote excellence in astronomy in Macarthur region.
Location	Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, SW Sydney, Australia
Region served	Macarthur Region.
Parent organization	Macarthur Astronomical Society.
Website	www.macastro.org.au
Remarks	Held third Monday of month (Jan-Nov). Previously known as General Meeting of Macarthur Astronomical Society.

Macarthur Astronomy Forum is a monthly public forum organised by Macarthur Astronomical Society, providing leading national and international professional astronomers with a platform to address the Forum on topics of astronomical interest; also providing members of the Society and the general public with opportunities to learn and ask questions.

The Forums (known as the General Meetings of the Society until the new identity was adopted in February 2011) have been held (admission free) at (and with the support of) the Western Sydney University (Cambelltown Campus), NSW, Australia since the second meeting of the Society in 1996.

The first Macarthur Astronomy Forum was held on 21 February 2011, with a presentation by Professor Fred Watson A.M., Astronomer-In-Charge of the Australian Astronomical Observatory, Siding Springs, NSW, Australia. The talk was entitled: "Poles Apart - The environment near a planet's poles"

The Forums are open to the general public and are held on the third Monday of each month (January to November).

Aims

To bring excellence in astronomy to the Macarthur Region.
To provide a prestigious public platform for expert national and international astronomers from Australia and elsewhere to make an illustrated presentation on their individual fields of expertise.
To foster the science of astronomy within the community.
To bridge the divide between professional astronomy and amateur astronomy.

Professor Geraint Lewis (Sydney University) is welcomed to the September 2012 Macarthur Astronomy Forum by Chris Malikoff (President, Macarthur Astronomical Society).

International Guest Speakers

Eminent International speakers who have addressed the Society:

Professor John Peacock (Edinburgh University).
Dr. Mark Phillips, Associate Director of the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.
Dr Giovanni Carraro, (European Southern Observatory), Chile.
Dr Gregory Chamitoff, a NASA astronaut, Canada.

Local Guest Speakers

Notable professional astronomers who have recently addressed the Society include:

The 2011 Nobel Laureate for Physics Professor Brian Schmidt (Australian National University, Mount Stromlo Observatory).
Professor Bryan Gaensler (Sydney University, Young Australian of the Year 1999 and Director of CAASTRO), University of Toronto since Jan 2015.
Professor Geraint Lewis (Sydney University)
Professor Fred Watson AM (Astronomer-In-Charge of the Australian Astronomical Observatory).
Professor Naomi McClure-Griffiths (Australia Telescope National Facility)
Associate Professor Peter Tuthill (Sydney University), known for his work on the Red Square Nebula.
Dr. Ragbir Bhathal (University of Western Sydney)
Dr. David Malin (Australian Astronomical Observatory).
Dr. Lisa Harvey-Smith (Project Scientist for the Square Kilometre Array 2009-2012 & Project Scientist for ASKAP 2012-to date).^[1]
Dr. Mike Ireland (Maquarie University)
Dr. Max Spolaor (Australian Astronomical Observatory).
Dr. Andrew Hopkins (Australian Astronomical Observatory).
Dr. Tim Robishaw.
Dr. Greg Madsen (Sydney University).
Dr. Simon O'Toole (Anglo-Australian Telescope).^[2]
Dr. Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer (School of Physics and Astrophysics, UNSW).
Dr. Emil Lenc (University of Sydney and CAASTRO)
Dr. Graeme Salter, University of NSW.
Dr. Jonti Horner, University of NSW.
Dr. Jeremy Bailey, University of NSW.
Dr. Geoff Sims, University of NSW.
Dr. Ángel R. López-Sánchez (Australian Astronomical Observatory).
Dr Amanda Bauer (Australian Astronomical Observatory).
Shaila Akhter (University of NSW).
Dr. Roberto Soria (ICRAR & Curtin University).
Dr Luke Barnes (University of Sydney).
Dr. Jonty Marshall (University of NSW).
Dr. James Allen (University of Sydney).
Dr. Ed Kruzins (CSIRO, Director of NASA Deep Space Communication Complex, Tidbinbilla)
Dr. Lee Spitler (Macquarie University).

These astronomers are users of the world's most sophisticated optical, radio, gamma-ray orbital and ground-based telescopes, including the Hubble, Keck, Parkes and the ATNF telescopes. In Lisa Harvey-Smith's case, she is also Project Scientist responsible for Australia's participation in the design of the world's largest ever radio telescope, the SKA and the commissioning of its precursor, ASKAP.

The Forum is also addressed by other experts in astronomy, such as manufacturers and retailers of leading telescope equipment; and leading amateur astronomers, such as Anthony Wesley and leading members of Macarthur Astronomical Society and other Societies, to foster the science of astronomy within the community.

Students Night

The inaugural Student's Night was held in December 2014,^[3] with students Vina Hing & Linh Thuy Nguyen from Prairiewood High School presenting their research,^[4] using iTelescope,^[5] into eclipsing binary stars.

External links

References

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