Astrofair returned this year on the 29th June
South West Astronomy Fair
The Norman Lockyer Observatory
Sidmouth, Devon
Saturday 29th June 2024
The Norman Lockyer Observatory is pleased to announce that Astrofair will return again next year in 2025.
You can see a local press report of the 2024 event from the Sidmouth Herald: https://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/24425018.sidmouth-astrofair-event-offered-something-ages/
Unclaimed raffle prizes:
0826 – Meade Telescope
1645 – Clock
0575 – DIY Telescope
1699 – Mugs
0437 – Space Rocks
If you are a prize winner then please contact us via the contact form to arrange collection of your prize from the observatory on a Friday evening or public open event. You will need to bring your winning ticket.
Activities at the event:
– Free tours with talks of the Historical Telescope Dome
– Free Access to The Planetarium Shows
– Free programme of Events and Talks by the NLO Groups
– Live Solar Observing (weather permitting)
– Displays from Astronomy Societies
– Trade Marquee with Exhibitors: Widescreen Centre, First Light Optics, Bresser, Astronomy Now
– More activities currently being planned
The Guest speakers will give interesting talks on a topical area within current astronomy and will include visual presentations. These will be held in the main Lecture Theatre. Due to demand, tickets can be purchased in advance; the cost is additional to the event entrance fee.
Speakers
These presentations are additional to the entrance fee. Tickets can be purchased in advance or on the day if space is available.
| Time | Subject | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Q&A Session Questions to astrofair@normanlockyer.com by 22nd June. |  Dr Gary Hunt Q&A session on space exploration and exploitation. Dr Gary Hunt was awarded a BSc, PhD and DSc from UCL. He joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from his position as a research fellow in Atmospheric Physics at Harwell/Oxford in 1970 and was the only UK scientist selected by NASA at the start of the Voyager mission in 1972. |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Tracing Celestial Footprints: A Journey through Archaeoastronomy Inspired by the Lockyers’ Legacy. | Carolyn Kennett (FRAS) Carolyn Kennett (FRAS) is a writer, researcher, and astronomer who lives in Cornwall. She is the chair of the Society for the History of Astronomy, and director of Mayes Creative. Her books include Uranus and Neptune (2022), Prehistoric sites of Bodmin Moor (2022) and Celestial Stone Circles of West Cornwall (2018). |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Saturn |  Mike Foulkes Director of the BAA Saturn, Uranus and Neptune Section. |
| 16:15 – 17:15 | Ten Observational Challenges for 2024 |  Pete Lawrence  Paul Abel Peter B. Lawrence is a British amateur astronomer. Since 2004, he has been a presenter on the BBC’s The Sky at Night. He makes high resolution images of the Sun, Moon and planets, and takes images of time-limited phenomena such as eclipses and the aurora. Paul G Abel is the director of the British Astronomical Association’s Mercury and Venus section, and a co-presenter on the BBC’s “The Sky at Night.” Programme. |
Food and drink is available to buy on the day.
Entrance fee: Adults £10, Children £5, Family of four £25.
Lecture Tickets £5
Advance ticket sales: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/astrofair-2024-tickets-899098847857
All enquiries Email to – astrofair@normanlockyer.com
If you would like to book a trade stand the please fill in this form and send it to astrofair@normanlockyer.com
If you would like to become a member of the Norman Lockyer Society click here: Joining the NLO