A chance to step into space
Posted on 13 November 2007
The mission of the Cassini-Huygens probe is to explore Saturn and its moons - including Earth-like Titan, one of the solar system’s most promising potential locations for life.
And a one-third-scale model of the probe - nearly 2.5m (8 feet) long, weighing 100kg (nearly 16 stone) - will be at the heart of SpaceQuest 2007, a day of free family activities organised by the University in conjunction with the Yorkshire Museum.
Whether it’s finding out about the latest advances in space exploration or enjoying a close encounter with a Dalek, there really will be something for everyone.
Dr David Jenkins
The model spacecraft has been under construction since June, and is built from salvaged scientific equipment by Dave Coulthard of the University’s Department of Physics. He was helped by Dr Peter Thompson of the Department of Psychology - the same partnership that was previously responsible for building the scale model of the solar system on the Selby-York cycle track.
Following the probe’s appearance at the SpaceQuest event, where visitors will have the chance to study it in detail, it will be moved to Naburn Station on the cycle track.
The day-long event will also offer visitors the chance to don 3D specs and take a light-speed flight across the universe, as part of an all-ages lecture to be delivered by Pete Edwards of Durham University.
Also on hand will be a giant walk-in planetarium, hands-on demonstrations of scientific equipment, visits to the campus observatory, and (weather permitting) the chance to gaze on sunspots and solar flares using the University’s own solar telescope.
A Mars Rover and even a Dalek will complete the event line-up, which runs from 11am until 5pm.
Dr David Jenkins of the University of York said: "We're pulling out all the stops to make this a great event. Whether it’s finding out about the latest advances in space exploration or enjoying a close encounter with a Dalek, there really will be something for everyone."
Martin Lunn of the Yorkshire Museum said: "Astronomy and space have not been this popular since the race to the moon in the 1960s. Here’s a chance for people to visit the University of York, have a great day out and meet the Physics students, the astronomers of tomorrow!"
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Since its launch in October 1997, Cassini-Huygens has made a wealth of new scientific advances, and has confirmed Einstein’s theory of relativity to a degree of precision never before achieved. It has also discovered three new moons for Saturn.
- At the same time as the scale model is on display in the University exhibition centre, its spacefaring big brother will be engaged on a close flyby of Titan.
- Giovanni Domenico Cassini was an Italian-French astronomer who discovered four of Saturn’s moons in about 1665. The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens had discovered Titan ten years earlier, as well as realising that what Galileo had called Saturn’s ‘ears’ were in fact orbital rings.
- The Cassini-Huygens project was developed jointly by European and US astronomers, with scientists from Imperial College London and the Open University responsible for several of the key instruments on board. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/.