The Astronomer Royal for Scotland tells why the sky in winter remains a dazzling prospect
Ten-year-Old John Brown walked down the garden path proudly clutching his new invention. He glanced up at the star-studded sky for a few moments before attaching the home-made contraption to the front gate of the family home in Dumbarton. Then, buoyed with anticipation, he pointed his telescope - made from an old spectacle lens and a magnifying glass taped on opposite ends of two cardboard tubes (from a calendar and a toilet roll) - towards the Moon. Read more
He has been Scotland's Astronomer Royal since 1995, and holds professorships at three of the country's top universities. He is one of the most respected scientists in his field, and today launches a global conference in his home city of Glasgow. He is also an accomplished stage magician, and is not afraid to let these worlds collide; in fact, he positively encourages it. Read more
A lecture on astronomy that will take place in Paisley promises to be out of this world. The event, dubbed `Fifty Years of Astronomy and Magic`, is being given by Professor John Brown and is being staged as part of the 200th anniversary of the Paisley Philosophical Institution.
Top research astronomer and magician Professor John Brown visited Slindon College to give pupils a fascinating overview of the latest research with a few entertaining magic tricks thrown in. Professor Brown is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland and holds professorships at Glasgow and Edinburgh universities and is also a member of the famed Magic Circle, the worlds most prestigious society for magicians.