The Vectis Astronomical Society is welcoming the public to the second instalment of its popular talk, We Are Stardust – Part 2 (Let the Fire Burn!), delivered by Simon Gardner.
The event takes place on Friday 25th July 2025 at 7.30pm and offers both in-person and online attendance options.
Those wishing to attend in person can go to Newchurch Pavilion, Watery Lane, Sandown, Isle of Wight (postcode PO36 0LX), while others can register via Eventbrite to join the session online.
A journey through stellar death and cosmic fire
In this talk, Simon Gardner continues his exploration of the extraordinary scientific story of stellar nucleosynthesis—the process that creates the elements from which everything is made.
The presentation follows the dramatic fate of massive stars, diving into the physics of supernovae and the merging of neutron stars. These violent cosmic events give rise to the fundamental building blocks of matter—a topic that fascinated both ancient alchemists and modern scientists.
About the speaker: From radar to the stars
Simon Gardner studied atomic and nuclear physics at Oxford University and worked as a radar engineer and data analyst across the UK, including on the Isle of Wight.
He also spent time working in linguistics before retiring. Astrophysics is now one of several “time-consuming hobbies” that he says help keep him “out of mischief. Mostly.”
He currently serves as Editor of New Zenith and is acting Programme Organiser for the Vectis Astronomical Society.
Open to all – Online or in person
The Vectis Astronomical Society hosts monthly talks on the fourth Friday of each month (excluding December). These sessions are open to the public, with a suggested donation of £2.50 for non-members.
Speakers from across the UK present for around an hour, followed by a question-and-answer session.
This month’s event will be held in hybrid format. Simon Gardner will speak live in person, with the talk also streamed via Zoom. Full details and the link to register for online attendance can be found on Eventbrite.
More information about the Vectis Astronomical Society and its upcoming talks is available on the website, or via the Facebook Event page.
