Talk by Professor Fred Watson at Sydney Observatory
Why is Uranus upside down? And other mysteries of the Solar System
6.30pm Friday 13 June 2008

Over the past few years, robotic spacecraft from Earth have made ever deeper forays in the field of planetary exploration. We now have unprecedented insight into the geological history of Mars, and astonishing new surveys of the bizarre moons of Saturn.
Moreover, we stand on the brink of exciting new discoveries from Mercury, Venus, Mars and, in a few years' time, Pluto. What is driving this feverish activity to understand the nature of the Solar System? Using the latest amazing images from Mars and Saturn
- not to mention Uranus - Fred Watson spells out the motivation for these investigations. He also looks forward to the next phase of crewed spaceflight to the Moon and beyond.

This is the introductory talk for the weekend seminar on meteorology and astronomy taking place at the Powerhouse Museum. Seminar attendees will be invited to this introductory talk. Others may attend for the normal Sydney Observatory night visit charge.

Biography: Born and raised in Bradford, UK, educated at St Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland, trained at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, measuring a million stars in the RAVE project, working as Astronomer in Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory, playing folk guitar along with good friends, combining his talents with composer Ross Edwards on 'Star chant', contributing articles to Astronomy yearbooks and 'Australian Geographic', writing 'Stargazer – the life and times of the telescope' and 'Why is Uranus upside down?', appearing as a regular guest on ABC radio and television, maintaining a busy public speaking schedule.