On Wednesday 29th April, we’re delighted to be joined by Phill Wallace FRAS of Cardiff Astronomical Society for a talk on “Second Star to the Right: A Brief History of Celestial Navigation”.
Astronomy has always had practical uses, but in the early 18th century it became not just practical, but vital to national survival. Whoever could master celestial navigation and solve the Longitude Problem would rule the seas. That turned out to be Britain, but this was almost undone by pride and hubris. This talk tells the story of how we learned to navigate by the stars across the deep oceans, truly unlocking the potential of the seas – and how a clock became so valuable that Captains would do anything to prevent the enemy from getting hold of it.
About Phill
Phill Wallace FRAS has been the Society Chair since 2016. Phill obtained a degree in Astronomy from the University of Glamorgan, and has had a passion for astronomy since a young age. Phill has often given talks to our Society along with others on a range of topics. Phill was one of the keynote speakers at the 2022 Brecon Beacons National Park dark skies festival. Phill often talks to a range of organisations to share the wonders of astronomy.