July 2004
Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council
An out of this world experience at the Royal Society Summer Science ExhibitionYour chance to take part in the Cassini-Huygens mission as it reaches SaturnUK space scientists are involved in a plethora of spacecraft that are currently exploring the planets, moons and comets in our Solar System. The UK Goes to the Planets exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition provides an opportunity to find out about these missions direct from the scientists.
Within the last couple of years we have seen the launches of:- Mars Express and Beagle 2 to Mars, Smart-1 to the Moon, Rosetta to Comet Churyumov Gerasimenko and the capture of cometary dust by the Stardust spacecraft.
With Cassini-Huygens poised to start its four year orbit of the "jewel" of the Solar System, Saturn (1st July) it is an exciting time for UK space science. Later in the year the Huygens probe will be released ready for decent onto Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in January 2005.
Meet some of the Cassini-Huygens scientists and learn about some of the exciting findings following Saturn Orbit Insertion.
see for yourself the latest images of Saturn and its moon's. get to play your own part in the mission by using Cassini data to try and identify new satellites orbiting Saturn. try your hand at determining the surface of Titan by taking part in a simulation test that uses a "real" Huygens probe.
This year's exhibition is a real planetary feast - with three other exhibitors being sponsored in part by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC).
The others exhibits being:- Stars 'R' Us Hunting for planets in Stardust Our star!
Professor Ian Halliday, Chief Executive Officer of PPARC said: "It is an exciting time for planetary exploration, astronomy and space science. Exhibitions such as this offer people the opportunity to find out about the world class research that is taking place in the UK directly from the people who are doing it. By capturing the interest of young people now we can secure the next generation of home bred scientists for the future."
Notes to Editors
The Summer Science Exhibition takes place at:
The Royal Society
6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London, SW1Y 5AG.
The exhibition is held annually at the London Headquarters of the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science. This year's exhibition features a total of 25 entries competitively selected from universities and companies throughout the UK. Each exhibit presents cutting edge science, engineering or technology through interactive displays staffed by the researchers themselves, who can give firsthand insight into the science on show. More than 3,500 people are expected through the doors over the three days of the exhibition.
For more information visit www.royalsoc.ac.uk or www.sc1.ac.uk
The press preview takes place on Tuesday 6th July - 9.30 a.m. - 11.00 a.m BST.
Contacts:
Tim Watson
Royal Society Press Office
20-7451-2508
Gill Ormrod - PPARC Press Office
[email protected]
Tel: 17-9344-2012
Mobile: 78-1801-3509
UK Goes to the Planets
A guide to the UK's involvement in exploring the solar system
PPARC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Queen Mary, University of London and the Open University.
For further details see www.uk2planets.org.uk
Anita Heward
UK Goes to the Planets Coordinator
[email protected]
Tel: 14-8342-0904
Space Detectives: investigating our Solar System - is a new exhibition currently running at the Science Museum in London. For further information contact Ben Ayers in the Science Museum Press Office at 20-7942-4357 or [email protected].
Cassini-Huygens
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative mission of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, a division of the Californian Institute of Technology also in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's office of Space Science, Washington, D.C.
UK scientists are playing significant roles in the mission with involvement in 6 of the 12 instruments onboard the Cassini orbiter and 2 of the 6 instruments on the Huygens probe. The UK has the lead role in the magnetometer instrument on Cassini (Imperial College) and the Surface Science Package on Huygens (Open University).
For more information, visit:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://saturn.esa.int/
Stars 'R' Us
Stars, planets and life: chemistry controlling the Universe
University of Nottingham, University College London, the Open University, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and Leiden University.
Contact: Dr Martin McCoustra
University of Nottingham
[email protected]
Hunting for planets in Stardust
How pictures of Stardust are revealing new solar systems around nearby stars
UK Astronomy Technology Centre, University of St. Andrews, Royal Observatory Edinburgh Trust, and the Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii.
Contact: Eleanor Gilchirst
ROE Press Office
[email protected]
13-1668-8397
Our star!
School pupils and scientists: partners in solar exploration
Neatherd High School, Dareham with the University of Cambridge.
Contact: Dr Helen Mason
University of Cambridge
[email protected]
The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) is the UK's strategic science investment agency. It funds research, education and public understanding in four broad areas of science - particle physics, astronomy, cosmology and space science.
PPARC is government funded and provides research grants and studentships to scientists in British universities, gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN, the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory. It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility.
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