Essential Information
Type | Talks and tours |
---|---|
Location |
Royal Observatory
|
Date and Times | Friday 18 October 2024 | 6.30-7.30pm |
Prices | Adults: £10 | Students & Under-25s: £9 |
10% off for Members. Not a member? Join now |
Women have been central to astronomical discoveries, but their work has often been underrecognized. How can we make these stories more widely known and accessible to an eager public?
Join us at Royal Observatory Greenwich for an inspiring panel discussion exploring the hidden stories of pioneering women in astronomy.
The panel features three contemporary artists whose work responds to the legacies of the Women Astronomical Computers at the Harvard College Observatory. These Harvard pioneers – including Williamina Paton Fleming, Henrietta Swan Leavitt, and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin – made groundbreaking discoveries space discoveries, including celestial objects, foundational laws, and the composition of stars.
All three artists will share their work and insights on creating new works from a historical collection to bring these histories alive. Stella Feehily is the playwright of Hampstead Theatre’s current production, The Lightest Element. Aura Satz is a London-based artist, filmmaker, and documentarian who created the installation artwork “Her Luminous Distance.” Anna Von Mertens is an artist and author of the recently published book, Attention Is Discovery: The Life and Legacy of Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt.
This event offers a unique blend of history, art, and science, shedding light on the essential roles women have played in advancing our understanding of the cosmos.
The event is co-organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the Harvard Plate Stacks, part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. The evening's discussion will be moderated by Thom Burns, Curator of the Harvard Plate Stacks.
Please note that this show involves flashing lights.
Plan your visit
This event will be held inside the Peter Harrison Planetarium, part of Royal Observatory Greenwich. Enter via the Astronomy Centre gate (pictured).
Please aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the event is due to start. The Observatory is situated at the top of a steep hill within Greenwich Park, so make sure you give yourself enough time to walk up (and enjoy the view!).
Getting to Royal Museums Greenwich
As this is an evening event, Greenwich Park will be shut once the session has concluded. Visitors must leave the Park via minibus, which will drop off at St Mary's Gate (at the northwest end of the Park).
Please be aware that this minibus is not wheelchair accessible. If you need to make alternative arrangements, please contact Bookings at bookings@rmg.co.uk or call 0208 312 6608.
Event partners
The event is co-organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the Harvard Plate Stacks, part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.
Main image: a scene from Stella Feehily's The Lightest Element (image by Mark Douet)