Merseyside Astronomy Day

09 May 2008

Amateur astronomers who attended the third Merseyside Astronomy Day, organised by LJMU's Astrophysics Research Institute and held at Spaceport (pictured above), heard how they too can make valuable contributions to the science of the skies.

Astrophysicists gave tips on finding new objects in space and informed attendees about recently developed detection technologies. Dr Pierre Maxted, an astronomer working at Keele University, described the different ways in which scientists find planets orbiting around other stars, posing the interesting question of whether we will detect another Earth-like planet orbiting a star like our Sun.

Dr Chris Leigh, manager of LJMU's National Schools' Observatory, spoke about recent developments in the field of detecting extra-solar planets, which are located far beyond the Solar System.

Cosmology was also an area of discussion, with LJMU's Professor Chris Collins shedding light on longstanding questions such as galaxy formation, the nature of dark matter and the expansion rate of the Universe.

Commenting on the event, Professor Collins said: "It was a great success and we intend to keep holding it annually as it helps raise the public's understanding of astronomy. It is also great for Merseyside and Spaceport. It's a rare opportunity for people to hear professional astronomers who are at the cutting edge of astrophysics."