Astronomy Talks - Comets and Asteroids

Comets – denizens of our solar system far from the Sun – have long been considered as ‘omens of doom’. However modern research has shown that comets are the primordial building blocks of planets which may have brought complex molecules and water to the infant Earth. 

Comets are therefore essential for our existence providing the Earth with the necessary ingredients for life ‘as we know it’. However, it has also been shown that the impact of comets, and their more rocky cousins the asteroids, on the Earth over many eons have caused major destruction - including mass extinctions – most notably in the famous case of the dinosaurs. Ultimately that was also to our benefit, allowing the mammals to ‘come out of hiding’. 

The next one may not be! – however current space missions dedicated to deflecting asteroids have shown that we can for the first time in history do something about it!

About the Lecturer

Our Astronomy Talks will be brought to you by Dr Fred Stevenson. Dr Stevenson obtained a degree in Physics with Astrophysics from the University of Leicester in 1980 followed by a PhD in Cosmology from Durham University in 1986. 

After further research he has spent the past twenty five years teaching adult education classes in astronomy, physics and mathematics at a variety of venues throughout Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire. 

He has organized and taught numerous weekend courses in astronomy based in the Kielder forest park and other venues in the North Pennines. Fred is passionate about talking to the public about astronomy and has given numerous talks to astro societies and other groups. 

When he is not teaching Fred can be found wandering the moors and fells of the North of England and also in our Theatre bringing you these very exciting talks.