Talks / Ideas / Philosophy

Seeing the Aftermath of Colliding Planets and Shattered Moons

Various venues across London

Thu 8 Oct · 19:00 · £20.25

90m · Talk

About this event

"Seeing the Aftermath of Colliding Planets and Shattered Moons" with Matthew Kenworthy Summary: If you look at enough stars in the night sky, it is possible to see even very rare astronomical events: astronomers look at hundreds of millions of stars every night to see if they change brightness, and in the process we have not only discovered thousands of planets orbiting around other stars, but have also seen the results of collisions of exoplanets too. I’ll talk about how I helped discover what we think is a planetary collision in a nearby star system, how we found it, and what it means for our understanding of how planets form and are occasionally destroyed, and we we can find out with new telescopes in the neat future. Bio: Matthew Kenworthy was born and raised in Epsom, just southwest of London. Despite the light pollution there, he obtained his PhD in astrophysics at Cambridge before working in the American desert in Tucson, Arizona on giant telescopes for over a decade. He specialises in looking for exoplanets - planets around other stars in our Galaxy - and now works in the Netherlands in the small college town of Leiden. Fun fact: he once had his left foot run over by Stephen Hawking. Venue: Big Penny 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL Event Running Time: (We recommend arriving at 6:30pm if you're eating, and 7pm if drinks only) Doors from 7pm Introduction: 7:25pm Lecture: 7:30pm Q&A: 8:10pm Finish: 8:30pm FAQs: What is Pints of Knowledge? Pints of Knowledge is a series of public talks where experts, researchers, and big thinkers share fascinating ideas all in the relaxed setting of a pub. We bring brilliant minds and curious audiences together over a pint, covering topics from science and politics to history, art, and beyond. What happens at Pints of Knowledge? At each Pints of Knowledge event, you’ll hear engaging talks (approx. 40 minutes) from expert speakers on fascinating topics — followed by an audience Q&A (approx. 20 minutes). The vibe is informal and social, set in a pub where you can grab a drink, meet interesting people, and enjoy big ideas in a relaxed setting. What if I don't drink alcohol ? No problem at all! Pints of Knowledge is all about the ideas and the community, not the drinks. You’re welcome to enjoy a soft drink, coffee, or whatever you prefer. The focus is on creating a relaxed, social atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Can I attend without a ticket? Tickets must be purchased online prior to the event. With our limited capacity at each venue we can't let people in without a ticket. There is occasionally the option to purchase a ticket on the door for our sold-out events, but we cannot guarantee this. Is there food available? Yes, there is usually the option to purchase food at our events - please see each venue's menu on their website. If you plan on eating at the venue, we recommend arriving as early as possible so the kitchen can get your order out before the talk starts. In the unlikely event the kitchen isn't open, there will typically be an option to order in food from elsewhere or bring your own food. Can I get my ticket refunded? We issue full ticket refunds 24 hours before the event. Any requests after will be at the discretion of the event organiser. Can I get my ticket exchanged? We issue full ticket exchanges if you have requested 48 hours before the event. Any requests after will be at the discretion of the event organiser . Is the event pet/baby friendly? Yes, we allow pets and babies to attend but reserve the right to request their removal if they are disruptive. Is the venue accessible? All of our venues are accessible, besides the following: The Old Queen's Head, The Landor, The Alma, and The Morpeth Arms.