Presented by Professor Colin Steele

07/10/2024 19:45 - Stone Jubilee Pavilion

A meteor is a small particle which enters the Earth's atmosphere at high speed burning up in the process and being seen as a brief luminous streak from the ground. Most meteors occur in 'showers' which recur on an annual basis; the members of a shower are believed all to originate from the same comet. This talk considers some of the theory of meteor showers and then details visual, photographic and other means of observing and recording meteors. Some recent projects of the BAA meteor section wil be discussed.

About the Speaker

Inspired by early events including Apollo Moon landings.

Bought small telescope 1972.

Joined Dundee AS, 1978.

Studied Mathematics and Astronomy and Astrophyics, St Andrews University, 1982-1986.
PhD in Applied Mathematics (Dynamics of Solar Prominences), 1986-1990.

Teaching of Mathematics to students in many parts of University of Manchester, since 1993.

Studies into Equilibria and Stability of Structures in solar atmosphere Dynamics of orbits of Trojan Asteroids.

Observations of e.g. Meteors, Noctilucent Clouds etc.

Joined Dundee AS, 1978. BAA 1985, Many other societies. Member of IAU.

Active in BAA Meteor section mid-1980s onwards Scottish Astronomers Group President 1991-1993