Macarthur Astronomy Forum

Macarthur Astronomy Forum is a monthly public forum organised by Macarthur Astronomical Society, providing leading national and international professional astronomers with a platform to address the Forum on topics of astronomical interest; also providing members of the Society and the general public with opportunities to learn and ask questions.
The Forums have been held at the Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia since the second meeting of the Society in 1996.
The first Macarthur Astronomy Forum was held on 21 February 2011, with a presentation by Professor Fred Watson A.M., Astronomer-In-Charge of the Australian Astronomical Observatory, Siding Springs, NSW, Australia. The talk was entitled: "Poles Apart - The environment near a planet's poles".
The Forums are open to the general public and are held monthly.

WWW macastro.org.au

Aims

To bring excellence in astronomy to the Western Sydney University and to the Macarthur Region.
To provide a prestigious public platform for expert national and international astronomers from Australia and elsewhere to make an illustrated presentation on their individual fields of expertise.
To foster the science of astronomy within the community.
To bridge the divide between professional astronomy and amateur astronomy.

List of International guest speakers

International speakers who have addressed the Society:

Dr Gregory Chamitoff, a NASA astronaut, Canada, who flew on Space Shuttle Discovery and Endeavour missions STS-124 and STS-134 to the International Space Station.
Professor John Peacock, cosmologist and astronomer,.
Dr. Mark Phillips, Associate Director of the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.
Dr Giovanni Carraro, astronomer, Paranal Observatory,, Chile.
Geoffrey Notkin, a meteorite hunter based in Tucson, Arizona, United States and co-star of the American TV series The Meteorite Men.
Amy Shira Teitel, a space exploration historian and, based in Canada.
Tom Nolan, Earth and Climate Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Shannon McConnell, Deep Sky Network, Public Engagement Manager, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Todd Barber, Senior Propulsion Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Deb Brice, Marine Science Educator, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Rachel Zimmerman Brachman, Outreach Lead for Radioisotope Power Systems, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Christine Fuller, Robotics Mechanical Engineer, Extreme Terrain Robotics, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Dr. Michael Malaska, Astrobiologist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

List of Local guest speakers

Professional astronomers who have recently addressed the Society include:

The 2011 Nobel Laureate for Physics Professor Brian Schmidt.
Professor Bryan Gaensler, University of Toronto since Jan 2015.
Professor Geraint Lewis
Professor Fred Watson AM.
Professor Naomi McClure-Griffiths
Professor Tamara Davis.
Professor Gary DaCosta.
Prof. Michael Wheatland.
Associate Professor Peter Tuthill, known for his work on the Red Square Nebula.
Dr. Ragbir Bhathal
Dr. David Malin.
Prof. Lisa Harvey-Smith.
Prof. Tim Bedding.
Prof Matthew Bailes.
Prof. Joss Bland-Hawthorne.
Assoc. Prof. Charley Lineweaver.
Prof. Tara Murphy.
Prof. Joss Bland-Hawthorn.
Dr. Mike Ireland.
Dr. Max Spolaor.
Dr. Andrew Hopkins.
Dr. Tim Robishaw.
Dr. Greg Madsen.
Dr. Simon O'Toole.
Dr. Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer.
Dr. Emil Lenc.
Dr. Graeme Salter, University of NSW.
Dr. Jonti Horner, University of NSW.
Dr. Jeremy Bailey, University of NSW.
Dr. Geoff Sims, University of NSW.
Dr. Ángel R. López-Sánchez.
Dr Amanda Bauer.
Shaila Akhter.
Dr. Roberto Soria.
Dr. Luke Barnes.
Dr. Jonty Marshall.
Dr. James Allen.
Dr. Ed Kruzins.
Dr. Lee Spitler.
Dr. Andrew Green.
Dr. Stuart Ryder.
Dr. Vanessa Moss.
Dr. Maria Cunningham.
Marnie Ogg.
Dr. Brad Tucker.
Dr. Devika Kamath.
Dr. Tayyaba Zafar.
Dr. Brett Addison.
Dr Ashley Ruiter.
Dr. Ciaran O’Hare.
Sarah Caddy.
Dr Doris Grosse.
Dr Simon Ellis.
Dr Kirsten Banks.

These astronomers are users of the world's most sophisticated optical, radio, gamma-ray orbital and ground-based telescopes, including the Hubble, Keck, Parkes and the ATNF telescopes. In Lisa Harvey-Smith's case, she was also the project scientist responsible for Australia's participation in the design of the world's largest-ever radio telescope, the SKA, and the commissioning of its precursor, ASKAP.
The Forum is also addressed by other experts in astronomy, such as manufacturers and retailers of leading telescope equipment; and leading amateur astronomers, such as Anthony Wesley and leading members of Macarthur Astronomical Society and other Societies, to foster the science of astronomy within the community.

Students Night

The Forum holds Annual Students Nights on the second Monday of December, when students are invited to present their latest astronomy research projects. The inaugural Student's Night was held in December 2015, with students Vina Hing & Linh Thuy Nguyen from Prairiewood High School presenting their research, using iTelescope, into eclipsing binary stars.

Space Rocks

In July, 2018, Macarthur Astronomy Forum and The Australian Botanic Garden collaborated to hold "", bringing two international figures, Geoffrey Notkin a meteorite hunter and television presenter from Tucson, Arizona, United States and Amy Shira Teital, a space historian and YouTube from Canada, to Macarthur. This sellout event was the first Forum at which an entry fee was charged.