From Orkney to space . . . in the King Street Halls

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, together with staff from the Royal Observatory are in the county this week, visiting schools.

Tonight, they will give a public presentation in the King Street Halls, Kirkwall.

Their Orkney visit is the final stop in a two-year outreach programme accompanying Major Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station.

Matjaž Vidmar explained: “In the presentation, we are linking the skies above with the long-held dream of exploring space, and we will be giving news about recent missions to reach for the stars, including Major Tim Peake’s journey to the International Space Station, as well as discussing the emergence of the space industry here in Scotland.

“There is also a new space telescope in the making – the James Webb Space Telescope – and also the largest-ever eye on the universe is currently being built in Chile, the European Extremely Large Telescope, and both of these projects have key components that have been designed and built in Scotland.

“Now is an ideal time for people of all ages to find out more about what’s happening in space, as it could be that someone at school in Orkney may one day be among those who build satellites or spacecraft engines, travel to the space station or set foot on Mars.

“On a long winter evening the dark skies invite us to contemplate the mysterious beauty of the universe and wonder whether somebody might be standing on a planet circling one of those bright spots of light and looking back towards us.

“With recent advances in astronomy and space exploration, in which Scotland and the UK are playing a key part, we might even find out!”

The event, entitled From Orkney to Space, is being hosted by the Orkney International Science Festival and begins at 7.30 pm.