In the last century our view of the Universe and our place within it has undergone a revolution every bit as dramatic as Galileo's assertion 400 years prior that the Earth was not the centre of the Solar System.

We live within a normal spiral galaxy that hosts 100 billion stars similar to our own Sun and forms but one of 100 billion galaxies. The last decade has taught us that all these galaxies make up less than five percent of the entire Universe.

As part of National Science Week Dr Alan Duffy, Research Associate at the University of WA’s node of International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research, will present a public lecture Investigating the Cosmos at the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

“The majority of the Universe is invisible to normal observations, forming Dark Matter which binds the galaxies together, and Dark Energy which pushes the galaxies apart,” Dr Duffy said.

“Yet all of these countless galaxies, stars, planets, and the Dark Universe itself came about in a single moment 13 billion years ago at Big Bang.”

In his lecture Dr Duffy will detail how such complex and beautiful galaxies formed from an explosion 13 billion years ago, how astronomers came to this fascinating world view that what we see forms less than five percent of the Universe, and why Western Australia is likely to solve these mysteries.

"Utilising powerful supercomputers we can now follow the formation of a galaxy from the Big Bang to the present day, yet when comparing in detail what we see through our telescopes there's always disagreements. This is how we can learn what drives the formation of galaxies like our own.”

An engaging speaker, Dr Duffy has a PhD in astronomy, a Master of Physics with Study in Europe from the University of Manchester, and is currently in his third year of postdoctoral research in astronomy. Maintaining strong international links he is highly respected amongst his Australian and international peers for his contribution to astronomy research and outreach.

Lecture: Investigating the cosmos
When: Monday 15 August 2011, 5:30pm
Where: Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 17 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
Bookings Essential: 9021 8533
Cost:  Entry by gold coin donation

Flora Perrella, Western Australian Museum T. 9212 3856 M. 0424 027 646