Asteroids: Small Rocks - Big Secrets
Thu, 11 Sept
|Belrose
From planetary defence to the origins of life, asteroids are holding onto secrets—and astronomers are finally unlocking them. Join Australia’s favourite stargazer, Fred Watson, for a fascinating deep dive into the discoveries being made right now… and why these small rocks matter more than ever.
Time & Location
11 Sept 2025, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Belrose, 146 Forest Way, Belrose NSW 2085, Australia
About the event
When Professor Fred Watson carried out his research on asteroid orbits in the 1970s, they were considered by the astronomy world to be the most boring objects in the Universe. Today, they are highlighted as vitally important in our understanding of how planets form, how life may have started, and how Earth might one day need to defend itself.
In this talk, Fred explores what recent space missions and ground-based based observations tell us about asteroids and their cometary relatives. They range from the return of physical samples to fleeting observations of interstellar visitors like ‘Oumuamua and 3I/ATLAS as they race through the Solar System, never to return.
With spectacular imagery and clear explanations, Fred unpacks what these discoveries mean for planetary science, and how small bodies are helping us answer some very large questions.
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Doors open 5.45pm for a 6.15pm start.
Book your place for dinner at Cascades…
Places
General Admission
$20.00
+$0.50 ticket service fee
Sold Out
This event is sold out