Astrofest 2012? Already? Yes yes! Though usually, the preparations do already start around this time. I just seemed to have developed the habit to spontaneously book a day or two before the actual event. But not this time. Of course, with this being the fifth since I first met up with the Galaxy Zoo gang, I just had to go anyway, but I also have an extra reason…
Astronomy Now, the great organiser behind this yearly astronomy event in London, has invited me to be one of the speakers! Really? Yeah, that’s what I first thought as well. You know, with Astrofest being a rather big happening with lots of people who actually know lots of stuff about astronomy… But I didn’t think long before I said ‘yes, very cool, thanks’ of course.
And then you have to keep something so exciting to yourself. But since they just launched their website with a confirmed speakers list: here you have it. I’ll be talking about Galaxy Zoo and what we’ve found out about my discovery, Hanny’s Voorwerp. (And I’ll be having lots of fun that weekend, guaranteed).
For those who just tuned in, it shouldn’t be necessary but, Astrofest: conference, sessions, exhibition, lovely crowd, where I first met Brian (May), where we queued and surprised Chris (Lintott), where we got our books signed by Sir Patrick as well, where we got kicked out of a pub for reasons I’m not quite sure on, where we… well, just come along, will you!
The Astrofest stage. One of the marvellous pictures by the well-known Max Alexander.
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By the way, meet-up arrangements are being made on the Galaxy Zoo forum too, in case you’re interested: http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=279543.0