TONIGHT - Public Talk by Peter McLeish - Carter Observatory, 7pm start (doors open from 6.30pm)

[The Phoenix Astronomical Society]

CARTER OBSERVATORY

International multimedia artist Peter McLeish is giving a public talk
at Carter Observatory on Wednesday 8 September 2010, 7:00pm start
(doors open 6:30).

As a special offer we are giving local astronomical society and Royal
Society Wellington members the chance to attend for the reduced star
pass rate of $10 for adults or $5 for children, just mention your
membership when you call to reserve your place (910 3140). Star pass
holders receive free entry to the observatory during normal opening
hours and a reduced rate for all of our public programmes events, so
if you plan to attend a few its well worth signing up.

Peter McLeish is a multimedia artist, filmmaker and painter from
Montreal. He is an international artist, who has been involved in a
collaboration with American scientist Walter A. Lyons, (2005 President
of the American Meteorological Society, President-2007-08 of the
National Council of Industrial Meteorologists, and President of FMA
Research Inc. (Colorado, USA)) on multi-media projects based on an
upper atmospheric optical phenomenon (associated with thunderstorms)
named Red Sprites.

Peter's presentation will include the award winning documentary 'The
Hundred Year Hunt for the Red Sprite' which documents one of the most
unexpected scientific findings in the atmosphere during the late 20th
century.

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Public Talk: Peter McLeish
Wednesday 8 September - 7.00pm start (doors open from 6.30pm)

Peter McLeish is a Canadian artist, who specializes in paintings and
multi-media events which highlight the beauty of science. He has a
Masters of Fine Arts (University of Guelph, Ontario). Recent shows
have included "The Glory Project", at the Planetarium du Montreal, an
art and music portrayal of the interplay between sunlight and clouds.
His interpretation of sprites as art are presented here as they are
being prepared for museum and gallery presentations in North America
and Europe. Peter believes it is important to promote unite, between
art and science in order to create a better understanding of the
natural world.

The Hundred Year Hunt for the Red Sprite

Red sprites are upper atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with
thunderstorms that have recently been only documented using low level
television. The first images of a sprite were taken in 1989 and from
1990 to 1994 the space shuttle obtained twenty more images. For over a
century, people, including well respected scientists, had reported
seeing strange lights in the night sky about thunderstorms - and they
were. But it remained for a “happy accident” in 1989 when the first
such event was captured on a low-light camera’s video tape. One
researcher exclaimed it was as if Biology had just suddenly discovered
a new human body part. Since then, an entire “zoo” of luminous
creatures have been found in the thin air above thunderstorms. Despite
nearly a century of anecdotal reports from airline pilots, most
scientists didn't really believe in sprites until the first images
were captured on high-speed video. The blink of an eye last 250
milliseconds: sprites often last only ten. Cameras and computer models
freeze sprites in time.

Lightning’s Angels

Lightning’s Angels is a six-minute film that combines digitally
enhanced oil paintings of a Sprite, in various states of
transformation which cannot be seen with cameras. This film is
accompanied with the song MISERERE from the CD STATE OF GRACE by Paul
Schwartz featuring the Joyful Company of Singers.

Cost: $25 adults
$20 concessions
$15 child
$10 adult Star Pass Holders
$5 child Star Pass Holders
Seats are limited. Bookings essential. Book now.
Carter Observatory acknowledges the support of the Canadian High
Commision in Peter’s New Zealand visit.