Mars Mission Talk Marks Anniversary of Astronomical Discovery
8 March 2013
NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover. (Photo courtesy of NASA).
We are very pleased to welcome Dr Bridges to talk about his work with the NASA Rover project. His lecture will have particular resonance as it will be taking place on the anniversary of Herschel's discovery of Uranus.
”Angela Dean, Head of the University's School of Technology.
One of the few UK academics involved with NASA's latest robot mission to Mars will talk about the £1.6billion space project, at a free public lecture at the University of Derby.
In a talk arranged by the Institute of Physics, Dr John Bridges will speak on Exploring Mars with the Curiosity Rover in Lecture Theatre MS023 at the University's Markeaton Street site in Derby at 7pm on Wednesday 13 March. The unmanned Rover touched down last August (2012) and Dr Bridges is on the international team analysing the data and images it is sending back.
At the end of his talk there will also be a short presentation on the University's own astro-project, the on-site recreation of a 20foot long telescope first used by celebrated astronomer Sir William Herschel (1738-1822) - who discovered the planet Uranus exactly 232 years before, on March 13, 1781.
The telescope project featured extensively on BBC Two's BBC Stargazing Live series this January and a public engagement programme for its future use, by the community and schools and colleges, is currently being developed by the University and its partners. There will be a chance to view the telescope after Dr Bridges' lecture on March 13.
His talk will focus on how he became involved with the Curiosity Rover project, the analysis of data beaming back from Mars and the search for signs that the Red Planet once had conditions habitable for microbial life.
Dr Bridges, Reader in Planetary Science at the Space Research Centre, at the University of Leicester, said: "The Mars Science Laboratory is one of the most ambitious ever space missions.
"Since the Curiosity Rover landed, in August 2012, we have already learnt enough from the mission to change our understanding of Mars. This is an exciting time for planetary exploration and the University of Leicester has a strong involvement with a wide range of research and instrumentation for the next generation of Solar System missions."
Angela Dean is Head of the School of Technology at the University of Derby and was closely involved with the recreation of the Herschel telescope for the BBC Stargazing Live programme.
She said: "We are very pleased to welcome Dr Bridges to talk about his work with the NASA Rover project. His lecture will have particular resonance as it will be taking place on the anniversary of Herschel's discovery of Uranus, which his recreated telescope now links the University to."
Light refreshments will be served ahead of Dr Bridges' talk at 6.30pm.
The event is free to attend, for both Institute of Physics' members and the general public, but places are limited and must be booked in advance.
To book a place please contact James Davies, at the Institute of Physics - via email: james.p.davies@physics.org - giving your name, contact email address and saying the number of places required.
The Midlands' region of the Institute of Physics has recently been restructured into several regional groups and this will be the inaugural lecture for the newly formed IOP 'Derby Centre'.
For further media information please contact Sean Kirby, University of Derby Press and PR Officer, on 01332 591891 or email: s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
