The International Space Station

Guest Speaker

Thursday, 19th February 2026 (19:45 - 22:00)

Venue: Hybrid

Twenty four years and counting, the ISS has provided answers to myriad questions and yielded scientific benefits for all.

What went into the planning and development in the decades before construction and what is life like on board for the crew, who eat 14 tonnes of food in six months! Indeed, what is the future for this huge project as it nears a quarter of a century in space?

This talk will reveal fascinating details and stunning images from this exciting orbital science laboratory

Join online if you can't meet us at the meeting room HERE

Speaker: Keith Townsend

I have been a keen astronomer for most of my life and have owned and used telescopes for more than 20 years. In the early 2000s, I developed a passion for astronomical imaging and put substantial effort and resources into a sophisticated setup that took several years to complete.

Growing frustrated at increasing light pollution in my area, I disposed of the entire set-up. However, when astronomy is in your blood, resistance is futile and after only a couple of years, the fever took hold again. Several different set-ups have been and gone, but I now have an amazing Altair Astro 102mm ED Triplet refractor mounted on an iOptron iEQ45 Pro mount. This is a self-contained imaging 'rig' with a camera rotator, filter drawer, reducer/flattener, and Altair Astro Hypercam 269c Protec camera. Everything is controlled through a mini pc while I sit in the warm. Astro software is incredible these days and many aspects of the hobby can now be automated. I also have a double-stacked pressure-tuned Lunt LS50 hydrogen-alpha solar telescope for observing and imaging the Sun in the Ha wavelength; again, some of my images are on display in the images section.

This way I can continue with the hobby on the warm sunny days I joined the Peterborough Astronomical Society in 2009 and became Treasurer from 2011 until 2020. In 2012 PAS co-hosted a 'Star Gazing Live' event with the BBC and needed volunteer speakers. I presented a talk about Curiosity, the Martian Rover, and thoroughly enjoyed the research which that entailed. I am really keen to promote interest in astronomical science to the general public and so the decision to offer talks on a wider basis was entirely logical. I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2016 and joined the British Astronomical Association in 2017.

My presentations have been delivered to a wide range of Astronomical Societies, U3A meetings, science groups, branches of the WI, public outreach events, and local societies. The talks can be tailored to suit varying levels of interest and involve stunning images, videos, animations, and digestible facts that are delivered with humor and enthusiasm. I add to the list periodically, so please check back from time to time to see what is currently available. You can email me via the contact page for more details, charges, and availability.