Are you curious about exploring the universe beyond what your eyes can see?
GOOD NEWS!
We are excited to announce a unique online workshop “The Practical Astronomy Lecture Series” featuring Dr. Andrew Thornett. The sessions will be held on 17 November, 24 November, 15 December 2024 and 5 January 2025, from 8:00pm to 10:00pm (Malaysian Time). Dr. Andrew Thornett, an experienced astronomer with a passion for radio astronomy and spectroscopy, has been active in the field of amateur astronomy across the UK, USA, and Malaysia. Starting his journey with visual astronomy, he now specializes in observing the universe through radio waves, making it accessible for enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just beginning, Dr. Thornett’s engaging sessions will offer a fresh perspective on exploring the night sky.
Dr Andrew Thornett is a General Medical Practitioner (family doctor) in Birmingham, England, UK, with an eclectic interest and passion for all things astronomy. He is a member of the BAA Radio Astronomy Group and Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers in the USA, and of Rosliston Astronomy Group in Derbyshire, and an associate member of the Astronomical Society of Penang in Malaysia. He has been married to a girl from Penang for the last 26 years, with two children. His website can be viewed at www.astronomy.me.uk
He started his astronomy journey using Dobsonian telescopes for visual observing of the night sky, and for a long-time avoided astrophotography! He still does some visual and now some astrophotography, but his passion is now for radio astronomy and spectroscopy – which allow him to see the night sky in a different light to that normally available to amateurs.
New types of radio receivers and filters have meant that radio astronomy is possible for people who would have never considered it previously, and for much cheaper prices that was available in the past. He is very keen to tell the world about this part of the hobby and to encourage others to take it up and observe the night sky with new eyes, opening a world to them previously unavailable.
Join us for a 4-part series covering exciting and practical topics in radio astronomy. You’ll learn how to map the Milky Way at home, detect meteors using radio signals, and even capture cosmic particles from your own living room. Get hands-on experience building your own spectrometer and listen to signals from Jupiter. This workshop will also introduce you to advanced projects like creating a cloud chamber and following real-time communication between the ISS and Earth.
=================================================================================================================
Mark your Calender !
Session 1 – Sunday, 17 November 2024, 2 hours, 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm (Malaysian Time)
-Introduction to radio astronomy for amateur astronomers
-Mapping the Milky Way at 1420MHz hydrogen radio line, and how to do this at home
Session 2 – Sunday, 24 November 2024, 2 hours, 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm (Malaysian Time)
-How to record meteors by radio meteor scatter and measure the exact peaks of meteor showers
-Solar flares and sudden ionospheric disturbances
Session 3 – Sunday, 15 December 2024, 2 hours, 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm (Malaysian Time)
-Detecting cosmic muons in your own house
-Introduction to spectroscopy for amateur astronomers
Session 4 – Sunday, 5 January 2025, 2 hours, 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm (Malaysian Time)
-3-D printing your own spectrometer and spectrohelioscope at home. Introduction to the Sol’Ex project
-Other projects… listening to Jupiter, making your own cloud chamber, listening to radio conversations between ISS and Earth, building a magnetometer
Like our Facebook page and follow our YouTube channel for more interesting events.