Canberra event: Free talk by 2012 Astronomy Photographer of the Year Martin Pugh

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy

Here's a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in astrophotography. A free presentation in Canberra by the 2012 Astronomy Photographer of the Year Martin Pugh!

This is his award-winning photograph of the Whirlpool Galaxy M51. But make sure you click through to the high-resolution version for all its beauty.

Here's the official information:

NGC 5319 Omega Centauri globular cluster - about 5 million solar masses!

PUBLIC PRESENTATION BY ROYAL OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2012

“Deep Space Astrophotography”

Presented by Lieutenant Commander Martin Pugh, RAN

Tuesday, 9 October 2012 at 5:00pm


R1-Theatrette, Defence Headquarters Building, Sir Thomas Blamey Square, Russell, Canberra
This event is open to the general public and all are welcome. The venue is on the left directly inside the doors of R1, before the security desk and barriers.

The UN-declared World Space Week (WSW) occurs annually during 4 to 10 October. In a combined effort between Defence areas with in interests in promoting military interests, in space and space professionalisation, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (www.aiaasydneysection.org), are pleased to be able to arrange this presentation by an internationally renown and award wining amateur astrophotographer.

Lieutenant Command Martin Pugh, RAN, is an amateur astrophotographer, who was recently honoured by the Royal Observatory Greenwich with the award of “Royal Observatory Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2012.” He has been invited to speak on his deep space astrophotography, including:

• Getting started in serious amateur astrophotography.
• Hi-Resolution astrophotography.
• Broadband/Narrowband Imaging.
• The Royal Observatory Astronomy Photograph of the Year 2012.

For 20 years, he moved between ships and establishments and in the late 90’s, together with the overwhelming appearance of Comet Hale Bopp in 1997, he became increasingly interested in amateur astrophotography. Many years of study and practical experiences gained with different but increasingly larger aperture telescopes and imaging systems winning the South Pacific Star Party astrophotography competition and the premier Australian Astrophotography competition in 2008. A crowning achievement was the release of a three stamp collectors set by Australia Post, to mark the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, which featured his image of the M78 galaxy, and coincided with winning the inaugural Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition hosted by the Royal Observatory Greenwich. His deep space images can be seen on the website at www.martinpughastrophotography.id.au.