Presentations on Astronomy and Space Exploration

I have been giving talks about space since 1969, travelling all over the UK and abroad. They are not just for astronomical and scientific societies, but for any group that would like an interesting and entertaining presentation on some aspect of space.  I have spoken to schools, Scouts & Guides, Rotary Clubs and at local festivals.  The presentations are highly visual and can be adapted for different ages and for length.

Here are brief details on my popular topics.  If you don't see what you want, then ask for a talk on a subject of your choice.

Click on "More" for additional details.

Starry, Starry Night
The Wonders of Astronomy

How big is the universe and what is it composed of? Take a journey outward from your home town to the planets, stars and galaxies. Learn about the scale of the universe and how astronomers observe its contents. See some of the wonders and phenomena of the sky, including stars and galaxies, nebulae, meteor showers and eclipses.

Visiting the Lord of the Rings
The Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and Titan

The Cassini spacecraft is currently orbiting the planet Saturn after a journey of more than 7 years. It carried the Huygens probe which separated from Cassini in December 2004 and descended to the surface of Titan – Saturn's largest moon – in January 2005. Hear about the exploration of Saturn from before we knew it had rings, up to the latest results.

Life in the Universe
Is there life elsewhere and how might we communicate with it?

Arthur C Clarke said "Either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. In either case, the answer is staggering!"  We have already detected planets circling other stars, but could there be life on other worlds? Is it possible to communicate with other beings in space? A fascinating and thought-provoking look at this remarkable topic, featuring songs by Dr Stephen Baird.

Take the Contact Challenge and see if you can decode a space message!

Let’s Go To Mars!
A practical way to reach the Red Planet

The USA and Europe both have plans to reach Mars, but don't expect to do so before the year 2037. Yet if we started now, we could get there in about 10 years, without it costing a fortune. Hear about a new way of reaching Mars, and what the Mars Society is doing to prepare us for the trip.

The Day They Launched A Woodpecker
An alternative history of space exploration

Did you know … That America once sent 50 elephants to the Moon? About the lunar fork-lift? What about Zambia's manned lunar landing programme? Or the rocket that was given a knighthood?
Jerry Stone draws on his many years of following the space programme to present a slightly twisted view of space exploration with an amazing collection of true stories, many of which are unknown to the public, including of course, The Day They Launched A Woodpecker.    More

This is my most popular presentation, and is unlike anything you have ever heard before about space.

We’re All Going To Die!
The threat from Near-Earth Objects

It came from space! It was 10 km across and it killed nearly all life on Earth! That was 65 million years ago. When might it happen again? The Earth was actually hit by minor asteroids in 1908 and 1947, and recent studies suggest that there are more such objects than previously thought.
The threat is real – it isn't a case of "if", but "when". So what can we do about it ...?

Views of the Moon
Our nearest neighbour in space

We have watched the Moon for thousands of years, but now we can have amazing views through relatively inexpensive telescopes. We can see its craters and mountains and watch as the view changes from night to night. Learn about our closest companion in space through stills and video of the Moon, including views of lunar and solar eclipses.

The Total Eclipse ­ The Total Experience
The total eclipse of the sun, as seen from Turkey in March 2006

In March 2006 I led a group to watch a total eclipse of the Sun in Turkey. This presentation not only shows the amazing spectacle of this rare astronomical event, but also describes the experience of "being there" and enjoying the eclipse with friends – those who travelled on the trip and the new friends that we found in Turkey. Find out just what it was like to stand in the shadow of the Moon.

Colonies in Space
A new home ­ a quarter of a million miles away

In the late 1970s, a study group concluded that a planetary surface is not necessarily the best place for a civilisation to flourish. Further work produced designs for space colonies 20 miles long, and if space activity had progressed as planned, they could have been under construction today. Building these new homes for mankind would help solve our energy crisis here on Earth. How could this be done? How would these colonies be constructed, and what would it be like to live on them?    More

Would You Believe ­ We Put A Man On The Moon!
Did we really fly to the Moon, or were the landings faked in a studio?

Current plans by both NASA and ESA's Aurora project propose manned flights to the Moon, but this will actually be a return to the Moon, around 50 years after the last man stood on its surface. Here is a chance to see how it was done originally, with contemporary video, images and artists' impressions - plus a Moon globe on which you can feel the craters, and a four-foot Saturn V rocket!    More

The Next 50 Years In Space
A look at potential space activities of the future

October 4 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Space Age, which started with the launch of Sputnik 1, and April 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the first man in space. Predicting the future isn't easy – all kinds of people have failed to forsee achievements that we now take for granted. But they have also predicted things that have not taken place – bases on the Moon, humans on Mars, and holidays in space.  Here is a personal view of what the future may hold for us.