August 2011

Impact Season draws to a close this month so it’s the last chance to see Impact: collisions and catastrophes, a free exhibition exploring the exciting world of comets, asteroids, meteorites and craters.

August also sees the final event in the popular Summer Science in the Planetarium series, as physicist, author and TV presenter Professor Jim Al-Khalili takes a look at the world of black holes and wormholes and asks whether our current understanding of space and time allows for the possibility of time travel.

The annual Meteoritical Society Conference descends on Greenwich this month, and the Observatory will be hosting public talks by some of the scientists attending as well as exciting themed family workshops. Visitors can explore the skies from the comfort of the Peter Harrison Planetarium, with every show including a live element presented by a Royal Observatory astronomer. Plus there is a series of observing events during daylight hours this month, using the Observatory’s impressive 28-inch telescope.

All events, exhibitions and planetarium shows listed here are situated in the Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Centre. Entry to the Astronomy Centre is free of charge; admission charges apply to planetarium shows and to some ticketed events – see below for details.

Exhibitions

Impact: collisions and catastrophes

From the dazzling beauty of a meteor shower to the devastating impact of a giant asteroid, the Earth is constantly bombarded by debris from space. August is the last chance to see this free exhibition which uses spectacular images, film and interactive exhibits to take a look at these fiery visitors and their effects on our planet, from tiny craters to death and destruction on a global scale. It also explores the vital clues that asteroids and meteorites provide about the violent formation of the solar system and the origins of life itself. Plus there’s the chance to see and touch real space rocks in the ROG’s astronomy galleries.

Dates: until 29 August
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Exhibition Space
Admission: Free

Observing Events

Daylight Sky Watch

The Royal Observatory’s 18-tonne Victorian telescope is the largest of its kind in the UK and is powerful enough to view the closest planets and brightest stars even during daylight hours. Come and take a look through this amazing instrument and find out what there is to see when the Sun is still in the sky.

Note: If rain, cloud cover or high winds prevent observing, a short presentation using footage taken through the instrument will be offered instead. See the website for details.

Dates: 6–7, 13–14, 20–21, 27–28 August
Times: 18.30, 19.10, 19.50, 20.30
Venue: Royal Observatory
Admission: £6
Age: 7+

Family Events

Saturday Space Explorers

During Impact Season these monthly free family workshops focus on meteorites, with the chance to handle real space rocks and find out what we can learn from them.

Date: 27 August
Times: 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30, 16.00
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Activity Space
Admission: Free
Age: 5+

Talks and Lectures

Summer Science in the Planetarium: Black Holes, Wormholes and Time Machines

Professor Jim Al-Khalili, University of Surrey

Professor Jim Al-Khalili takes the helm in the planetarium for the last of this year’s popular Summer Science events. Using the planetarium’s spectacular visuals he asks whether our current understanding of space and time allows for the possibility of time travel, both into the future and the past. What do Einstein's theories of relativity have to say on the matter and how is this linked to the idea of black holes and parallel universes?

Dates: 25 August
Time: 19.00
Venue: Royal Observatory
Admission: £10, £7.50 concessions

International Meteoritical Society Meeting

This year over 500 of the world’s leading meteorite scientists are converging on Greenwich for the annual meeting of the Meteoritical Society, where they will announce the latest findings in this exciting branch of space science. During the meeting the Royal Observatory is offering the public an exclusive chance to meet the experts and hear about their latest discoveries, with a series of talks and exciting family workshops.

Meet the Meteorite Scientists

Meteorite scientists attending the international Meteoritical Society Conference in Greenwich reveal their latest discoveries and answer questions in the Astronomy Centre. Come along and find out how rocks from space can tell scientists about the history of the solar system and the origins of life on Earth. See our website for information on the scientists delivering each talk and their current research projects.

Date: 8–14 August
Times: 14.15, 15.15
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Digital Space
Admission: Free, ticketed
Age: 11+

Space Rocks and Snowballs

Find out about asteroids, comets and meteorites in these exciting family workshops. Visitors will have the chance to handle real meteorites and even have a go at making a comet.

Dates: 8–14 August
Times: 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30, 16.00
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Activity Space
Admission: Free, drop-in
Age: 5+

Planetarium Shows

Peter Harrison Planetarium

The state-of-the-art Peter Harrison Planetarium is the centrepiece of the Royal Observatory's Astronomy Centre and is now the only planetarium in London. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Shows

Impact: from Halley to Hayabusa

Find out about the violent processes that led to the formation of the solar system, leaving our cosmic neighbourhood littered with icy comets and rocky asteroids. Discover what this cosmic debris can tell us about the origin of our world and the threat it poses to life on Earth.

Dates: throughout August 2011
Times: 11.45, 13.30, 15.15
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults, £4.50 children/concessions, £17.50 family ticket
Age: recommended for ages 5+

Sky Tonight Live: Holiday Skies

Discover what the UK night sky has to offer during the holiday season, and then vote on a popular summer holiday destination to see the sky from other locations around the world. Presented live by a Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomer.

Dates: throughout August 2011
Times: 12.45, 16.15
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults, £4.50 children/concessions, £17.50 family ticket
Age: recommended for ages 5+

Space Safari

Join Ted, the teddy bear, for live music and rhyme as he journeys throughout the solar system looking for the Great Bear in the sky. Presented live by a Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomer.

Dates: throughout August 2011
Time: 11.00
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults, £4.50 children/concessions, £17.50 family ticket
Age: suitable for age 7 and under

Meet the Neighbours

Earth travels around the Sun with seven other planets, hundreds of moons and millions of asteroids. Meet our neighbours in space in this entertaining interactive show, where you decide which planets to visit. Presented live by a Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomer.

Dates: throughout August 2011
Times: 14.30
Venue: Astronomy Centre, Peter Harrison Planetarium
Admission: £6.50 adults, £4.50 children/concessions, £17.50 family ticket
Age: recommended for ages 5+

Exhibitions and galleries

Time and Space at the Royal Observatory

• Astronomy Galleries: Situated in the Astronomy Centre, these three visually striking galleries provide opportunities to explore astronomy and our place in the universe. With amazing hands-on exhibits helping to provide answers to big questions, the galleries discover how astronomers study space and explain recent developments in modern astronomy. Admission: Free
• Time Galleries: Explore the importance of time in all our lives through the interactive exhibits in galleries on ‘Time and Longitude’, ‘Time and Greenwich, and ‘Time and Society’. Admission: Adults: £10 | Entry for children under-16: Free | Concessions: £7.50. The entry charge is an annual pass and includes admission to Flamsteed House, the Meridian Courtyard and the Meridian building in addition to the Time Galleries.

General Information

• Admission to the Astronomy Centre at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, is free.
• Admission to the Royal Observatory’s historic Flamsteed House, Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and Meridian Building is £10 for adults (£7.50 concessions). Entry for children under-16 is free. The £10 entry is an annual pass (visitors are able to return as many times as they like within 12 months for no additional charge).
• From Friday 29 April 2010, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, will be operating extended summer opening hours for Flamsteed House, the Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and the Meridian Building. The Astronomy Centre will close at the usual time of 17.00. Extended hours are as follows:
• 29 April–22 July: weekends, Bank Holidays and school holidays only: last admission, 18.30, galleries close 19.00
• 23 July–4 September: daily, last admission, 18.30, galleries close 19.00.
• The site opens at 10.00 as normal throughout this period.
• The National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House are open: 10.00–17.00, daily.
• For updated information prior to visit please visit our website: http://www.rmg.co.uk or phone (020) 8858 4422.
• For advance bookings for charged events please call 020 8312 6608 or email bookings@rmg.co.uk.

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For further information or images please contact:
Jenny Orton
National Maritime Museum Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6545/6732 | 07960 509802
Email: press@rmg.co.uk