Press Releases

Sackler Lecture Theatre, Institute of Astronomy,
University of Cambridge, Madingley Road
Cambridge CB3 0HA

9 April 2010

Speakers include:

Dr Elizabeth Kessler, Prof. Gerry Gilmore, Lars Lindberg Christensen,
John Timberlake, Dr Craig D. Mackay, Dr Jonathan Friday, Dr Diarmuid Costello

The aesthetics of astrophotography is a one-day interdisciplinary symposium focusing on the relationship between Hubble images and the history of art.

The event will bring together an international panel of leading astronomers, art historians and other researchers to discuss the subject, capture and content of astrophotographic images taken with deep space telescopes.

Artists, philosophers and historians will consider the study of these images and the importance of translating the telescope's data into aesthetically pleasing scenes that communicate with non-scientists. The panel will discuss whether such images ultimately rely on the visual language of Romantic landscape painting to convey a sense of wonder and the possibility of conquering another frontier.

For more information please go to: www.aestheticsofastrophotography.co.uk

Supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation