Essential Information
| Type | Talks and tours |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | Monday 14 April 2025 | 6-7pm (doors open from 5.30pm) |
| Prices | Adults: £10 | Students: £9 |
| 10% off for Members. Not a member? Join now |
Join historian Mike Frost, curator Dr Louise Devoy and astronomer Dr Greg Brown celebrating the life and work of Annie Scott Dill Maunder.
On the anniversary of Maunder's birth, the Royal Observatory is hosting a special panel discussion about the pioneering astronomer.
Hear about Annie Maunder's accomplishments as a pioneer in astrophotography and solar physics, from her observations of sunspot activity to organising expeditions to observe eclipses across the world.
We’ll consider the challenges she faced as a female astronomer working at the turn of the twentieth century, and highlight her contributions to popular astronomy and the science communication of the time.
Finally, we’ll reveal her ongoing legacy as we show never-before-seen images taken using the Observatory’s modern robotic telescope named in her honour: the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope.
Meet the speakers
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Louise Devoy
Dr. Louise Devoy is Senior Curator of Royal Observatory Greenwich.
After initial studies in astrophysics, Louise refocused her studies towards the history of astronomy and she now enjoys undertaking research on the history of the Royal Observatory site, considering its buildings, instruments, people and wider significance with global history.
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Mike Frost
Mike Frost is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and Meetings Secretary of the Society for the History of Astronomy.
He is also Director of the British Astronomical Association's Historical Section, and as such is inordinately proud of the pioneering men and women who founded the Association in 1890 – among them Annie and Walter Maunder. Like the Maunders, he is an eclipse chaser, and a guest astronomer for Astro-Trails on their eclipse tours. He was a contributor to Eclipse and Revelation: Total Solar Eclipses in Science, History, Literature, and the Arts (OUP, 2024), a book which celebrated Annie's eclipse photography. He also worked with Rik Hill of the Catalina Sky Survey to have asteroid 50726 named for Annie Maunder.
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Greg Brown
Dr Greg Brown is an astronomer working at Royal Observatory Greenwich.
He obtained his PhD at the University of Warwick studying the untimely deaths of stars torn apart by supermassive black holes in distant galaxies. Upon finishing his doctorate, he began working as an outreach coordinator, building on his passion for science communication before joining the Observatory in 2017.
Now he works in the Astronomy team, developing and presenting the public programme. He also oversees the operation of the Observatory's modern robotic telescope, the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope.
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Plan your visit
This event will be held inside the Peter Harrison Planetarium, part of Royal Observatory Greenwich. Enter via the Astronomy Centre gate (pictured).
Please aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the event is due to start. The Observatory is situated at the top of a steep hill within Greenwich Park, so make sure you give yourself enough time to walk up (and enjoy the view!).
Event timings:
- Doors open from 5.30pm (the café will be open for visitors before the panel discussion starts)
- Event runs from 6-7pm
Getting to Royal Museums Greenwich
Frequently asked questions
When should I arrive?
Please allow enough time to get to us and aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the show’s start time on your ticket.
Can children attend?
This event is suitable for ages 16+.
What provisions are in place to support those with additional needs?
From moving around our site to being inside the planetarium, check out our full accessibility information here.
I have another question.
Check our frequently asked questions here. If you're still not sure, call or email the Bookings team.
Call: +44 (0)20 8312 6608
Email: bookings@rmg.co.uk
350 years of Royal Observatory Greenwich
This event is part of a season of events celebrating the anniversary of the Royal Observatory
What’s On
Find more events in the Observatory anniversary season.
Main image courtesy of the Maunder family