Volcanoes of the Solar System
Schedule
Sat May 16 2026 at 07:30 pm to 08:30 pm
UTC+09:30Location
Adelaide Planetarium | Adelaide, SA
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Paul Curnow Adelaide Planetarium
Abstract: Volcanism is one of the fundamental geological processes that has shaped our Solar System. With approximately 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth, that continue to sculpt the surface of our planet. The planet Mars has many ancient volcanoes, with at least 20-large volcanoes in total. Moreover, the tallest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons, can be found on Mars. This volcano is around three times the height of Mt Everest and has been closely imaged by orbiting spacecraft. Venus hosts close to 100,000 volcanoes on its surface making it the most volcanically active planet in the Solar System. In addition, scientists have observed changes in the size and shape of volcanic features, indicating ongoing volcanic activity. The Moon currently has no active volcanoes, but in its ancient past, it was a highly volcanically active world, with vast plains of basaltic lava created by massive eruptions billions of years ago. In this talk, we will explore evidence for volcanism in the Solar System, which has found on all the terrestrial planets, and amazingly on some of our outer moons.
Bio: Paul Curnow is a world-renowned astronomer, and after 34-years is South Australia’s longest serving planetarium lecturer. In 2002, he served as a southern sky specialist for visiting U.S. and British astronomers who were in Australia for the total solar eclipse. After three decades of research, he is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on Australian Aboriginal night sky knowledge; and in 2004, he worked in conjunction with the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center Planetarium in Ohio, on the creation of a show that features Indigenous Australian stories of the night sky. Moreover, from 2018-2024, he has served as a consultant on Indigenous Astronomy for the Australian Space Agency.
In addition, Paul runs several popular courses for the public that focus on the constellations, planetary astronomy, meteoritics, historical astronomy and ethnoastronomy, which primarily deals with how the night sky is seen by non-western cultures. He appeared as the keynote speaker at the inaugural 2010 Lake Tyrrell Star Party in Sea Lake, Victoria and in 2011 was a special guest speaker at the Carter Observatory in Wellington, New Zealand. Since 2012 Paul has taken the role of Lecturer for the ‘Astronomy & the Universe’ course (EDUC2066); and between 2019-2021 for ‘Science’ (EDUC 2030) for the School of Education at the University of South Australia. He has been a member of the Field Geology Club of South Australia since 1992.
Moreover, from 2021-2024 was an advisor for the Andy Thomas Space Foundation Education Advisory Committee; and in 2023 completed a U.S. lecture tour, where he was a special invited guest speaker at several planetariums, colleges, and universities. Paul appears regularly in the media and has authored over 50 articles on astronomy.
To be held at the Adelaide Planetarium (upstairs), Building P, Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus. Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes SA 5095. Cost $26.00 per person.
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FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES OR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact Name: Allison Price
Company Name: Adelaide Planetarium
Telephone: (08) 8302 3138
Email: [email protected]
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Adelaide Planetarium, Building P, Mawson Lakes SA,Adelaide,SA,AustraliaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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