Astronomers converge on Keele to study The Clouds (7/16/2008)
Astronomers from around the world are to gather at Keele University to learn more about two of our neighbouring galaxies at an event which is only held once every 10 years.
Organised by the Keele Astrophysics group, the International Astronomical Union symposium will welcome more than 160 astronomers from 28 countries to present and discuss the latest findings on a variety of astronomical topics, all based on observations in the Magellanic Clouds.
Members of the public are also invited to attend a talk about archaeo-astronomy by Professor Clive Ruggles (July 29), a concert including music by the famous English astronomer William Herschel (July 30) and an open-air performance of Shakespeare's Othello in the grounds of Keele Hall (July 28).
Visible to the naked eye in the Southern Hemisphere, the Magellanic Clouds were named after the early-16th century Portuguese explorer Fernao de Magalhaes. The stars, gas and dust in these galaxies have been observed in great detail ever since with the most powerful telescopes on Earth and in space and across the entire range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The only supernova explosion visible to the naked eye in four centuries was witnessed in the Large Magellanic Cloud in 1987.
Dr Jacco van Loon of Keele's Astrophysics group said: "The Magellanic Clouds are arguably the most fascinating objects in the sky. Once a decade, the International Astronomical Union devotes a large symposium to these galaxies, which continue to hide fundamental secrets about the physics of stars, gas, and galaxies in general.
"It is a great honour to host the symposium on Keele's campus in Staffordshire. We are delighted that so many colleagues will participate, famous astronomers and starting graduate students alike. I remember the last Magellanic Clouds symposium ten years ago, when I was a graduate student myself. It left a big impression on me then and we are sure that it will be as exciting this time."
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Keele University
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