Welcome to the Astronomical Society of South Australia

The Solar System is a big place. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is even bigger! But how big? This lecture will explore the size of moons, planets and stars, from 'tiny' Vesta to the largest stars like Betelgeuse and VY Canis Majoris. Real-time 3D graphics will be used to help visualise the immense scale of the stars and planets and the mind-blowing distances that separate them.

This month we will take a close look at comets. Where do they come from? What are their physical characteristics and find out about dust and gas tails.

How do Native Americans believe the universe came into existence? How does the way that Native Americans view the night sky, differ from the classical eighty-eight western constellations used by contemporary astronomers today? Do indigenous populations in South America, and North America, differ on their interpretations, and their belief systems as part of their stellar knowledge? In this talk, Paul Curnow will introduce you to their cultures and peoples, in addition to some of their cosmogony.