Event Calendar

Jun
17
Fri
2016
Talk: Gerrard Gilligan – William Lassell 1799-1880, Telescopes, Planets, and Drinking Beer @ Ayton Village Hall
Jun 17 @ 19:45 – 21:30
William Lassell (1799-1880).  Image Credit: Science Photo Library

William Lassell (1799-1880). Image Credit: Science Photo Library

Lassell made his fortune as a Liverpool brewer which enabled him to pursue his passion of astronomy, particularly an interest in the outer planets. Described as one of the first “Grand Amateurs” of the Victorian age, William Lassell’s list of achievements is truly impressive. He built a 24 inch reflector telescope using his own workshops, discovered Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, co-discovered Hyperion, a moon of Saturn and went on to discover Ariel and Umbriel, two new moons of Uranus.

Gerard Gilligan first became interested in the great science of Astronomy when he was 8 years old, following the Apollo 8 mission around the Moon.. He joined Liverpool Astronomical Society in 1984 and is a founder member of the UK based Society for the History of Astronomy.

Gerard lives in Liverpool, working at Liverpool University, School of Life Sciences, as a Technical Supervisor. He has a wife, two teenage children and an 8 inch dobsonian telescope to support.