Rosina Dafter: Australia’s brilliant variable star observer, 6:30pm, Monday 3 November.

Presented by Dr Toner Stevenson at Sydney Observatory

Rosina Dafter migrated from England to Brisbane, Australia in 1910. In 1923 she  became an amateur astronomer, joining the BAA NSW and other societies. She was prolific in her observations of variable stars and in 1937 Dafter became the first Australian woman to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Additional to her achievements and  challenges, this presentation will outline a short history of variable star observing, the development of definitions and methods, and why variable stars are still of interest today.

Bio

Dr Toner Stevenson is an honorary History affiliate with The University of Sydney. Toner researches the history of astronomy in Australia, in particular women who were the ‘hidden figures’ essential to research and discovery. Her extensive career in museums includes manager of Sydney Observatory and senior roles at the Powerhouse Museum, the Natural History Museum in London and Museums of History NSW. Toner enjoys observing total solar eclipses and she is co-author of the Eclipse Chasers book published by CSIRO in 2023. She is a Sydney City Skywatchers Committee member and past president (2020-2022).

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

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

If you are not a member please email: sydneycityskywatchers@gmail.com and you will be invited to attend (subject to availability).

Details: This presentation will be in person at Sydney Observatory and also by Zoom. Members are encouraged to attend on-site. 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: sydneycityskywatchers@gmail.com.

Please arrive at Sydney Observatory by 6:20pm or log-in by 6:25pm. Notices and a short presentation by members are delivered before or after the keynote depending on circumstances.