Paul Curnow
Adelaide Planetarium
University of South Australia

Abstract: The two earliest civilisations to provide us with writing and recording were those in Mesopotamia and Egypt. It is through these writings that we have been able to gain insights, into the early minds of humankind, and how they believed the world and wider cosmos came into being. What was the Ancient Egyptian view of the cosmos and how the world came into existence? What do we know about Egyptian constellations? In this talk I will introduce you to some of the cosmogony of Ancient Egypt. In addition, I will look at the significance of the night sky and what we know about it from an Ancient Egyptian perspective (please note: this session is ‘adults only’ – no admittance under 16-years of age).

Bio: Paul Curnow [B.ED] has been a lecturer at the Adelaide Planetarium since 1992. He was the recipient of the ASSA editor’s award for 2000; 2010; and then again in 2013. In 2002, he served as a southern sky specialist for visiting U.S. and British astronomers who were in Australia for the total solar eclipse. After 27-years of research, he is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on Australian Aboriginal night sky knowledge; and in 2004, he worked in conjunction with the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center Planetarium in Ohio, on the creation of a show that features Indigenous Australian stories of the night sky. In addition, Paul runs a number of popular courses for the general public that focus on the constellations, planetary astronomy, historical astronomy and ethnoastronomy, which primarily deals with how the night sky is seen by non-western cultures. He appeared as the keynote speaker at the inaugural 2010 Lake Tyrrell Star Party in Sea Lake, Victoria and in 2011 was a special guest speaker at the Carter Observatory in Wellington, New Zealand. Since 2012 Paul has taken the role of Lecturer for the Astronomy & Universe course (EDUC2066) for the School of Education at the University of South Australia. In 2018, he was made an Honorary Life Member of the Astronomical Society of South Australia for his contributions to astronomy. Paul appears regularly in the media and has authored over 50 articles on astronomy.

*BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL* to make a booking or for further information book online – or phone 8302 3138 or email the planetarium at adelaide.planetarium@unisa.edu.au. Cost is only $25.00 per person and seating is strictly limited.