Comet Connections, by Chris Wyatt, 6:30pm Monday 2 November at Sydney Observatory

Keynote: Chris Wyatt, amateur astronomer and dedicated comet chaser, will deliver the keynote address at Sydney Observatory on Monday 2 November at 6:30pm. Chris will be talking about how he got into comets, how he started observing them and how he found all these great connections. We will hear about his early mornings experiences, as an amateur astronomer, observing comets. Chris has been exploring how amateurs can, and have, contributed to comet science.

Comet C2006P1_McNaught in Moonlight, 26Jan2007. Photo and copyright: Chris Wyatt

Short talk: As well as the keynote on Monday 2 November we will have short talk by Emeritus Professor Wayne Orchiston about the discovery of a comet by John Tebbutt in 1861 and, on the Sunday before this talk (1 November), Sydney City Skywatchers are invited to visit Tebbutt's Observatory in Windsor on a tour led by John Halley Tebbutt. More details here.

Chris Wyatt bio

My introduction to Astronomy started with viewing Halley’s Comet from Western Sydney in 1986.  

Since then I have maintained an interest in all things Astronomy, and Comets in particular.

In 2002 I moved away from the bright lights of Western Sydney to Walcha in the New England region of NSW. From here my passion for comets evolved. Since attending my first NACAA in 2008 I added occultations and variable star observing to my list, since contributing to Astronomy Science from your backyard is very appealing! I joined WSAAG in 1994, UNENTAS in 2003 (Past President, current Vice-Pres) and TRAC in 2015. I have contributed visual observations of comets since 2008, and along the way I have made many friends, the world over.

What inspires me? Their visual appearance, history and mystery is what drives me to get up and get out into the frosty cold, clear sky mornings. Their uniqueness and rarity, their connection to us all, and knowing I could be the only one looking at them at any given time! I also enjoying sketching and photographing them when time allows, and I never tire of talking about them.

How much time have you got!? 😊

This is an in-person event at Sydney Observatory, starting at 6:30pm.

Members are encouraged to attend on-site.

Address: 1003 Upper Fort Street, Millers Point, The Rocks.

There is meter parking on Observatory Hill and Sydney Observatory is a short walk from Circular Quay and Wynyard. The 311 Bus sets down in Millers Point, a short walk from Sydney Observatory.

Please arrive at Sydney Observatory by 6:20pm or log-in by 6:25pm.

How to attend online: This presentation will be also livestreamed by Zoom. All members will also be emailed the Zoom link. If you are not a member and want to attend this talk please email our secretary on: cityskywatchers@gmail.com.