ALEX ABBEY on ASTRONOMY OF LIGHT

Alex Abbey has had an interest in Astronomy all his life. He has shared this passion with various groups and is now working at the Parkes telescope, affectionately known as "The Dish". He will not only talk about the differences between optical and radio telescopes, and why we need both, but will give an insight into the other ways we study space. Alex is an entertaining and informative speaker.

THE ASTRONOMY OF LIGHT

Most people have heard of optical telescopes, and even radio telescopes such as Murriyang, CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope. (The name Murriyang has been gifted to the telescope by the local Wiradjuri traditional custodians of the land that the telescope stands on.) However, people often understandably struggle to understand the differences between Optical and Radio Astronomy.


This confusion increases when people further learn that there are many other types of astronomy as well, including Gamma Ray, X Ray, Ultraviolet and Infrared Astronomy.

In a straightforward way, Alex Abbey will explain the differences and similarities (as well as the strengths and weaknesses) of these different types of astronomy. Alex will also illustrate how the different types of astronomers work closely with each other to bring different pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together, so that together they form a better and fuller idea of what makes the Universe “tick”.

 

ALEX ABBEY


Alex Abbey has had a deep interest of astronomy for his entire life.  He is a retired High School Social Science teacher, who through evening and daytime astronomy viewings, has passed on his deep interest in astronomy and space exploration to many of the school communities that he has taught in.


Alex continues to practice his love of teaching by continuing to work at the Visitor Centre of the Parkes radio telescope, affectionately known as The Dish, where he has worked on a part-time basis for over 10 years. He is also one of the co-founders and inaugural Secretary of the Central West Astronomical Society (CWAS), a very active amateur astronomy group with members in towns across the Central West of NSW, and with a dark sky optical observatory outside Parkes, NSW.


Alex also introduced the Friends of the Dish program at the Parkes radio telescope, where on certain days during the NSW school holidays, members of the CWAS set up their telescopes in the grounds of the radio telescope to expertly show visitors the Sun and certain other stars and planets in broad daylight through appropriate safety equipment.

 

CONTACT:              Alex Abbey          0499623823         the.abbeys@bigpond.com




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