Professor David Southwood finished his fascinating and enthralling lecture on the European Space Agency (ESA) with this question. His video of the flight across Mars was created using images taken during various missions to Mars by the ESA and provided a unique and exciting perspective of our neighbour.

Professor Southwood began his talk by outlining the ethos of ESA and establishing the agency in the context of international space science and exploration. He then went on to give accounts of the various projects undertaken by ESA, detailing past, present and future missions, to a captivated audience. Professor Southwood is responsible for some of the most advanced space missions to date and we were treated to dazzling accounts of The Hubble Space Telescope, The James Webb Space Telescope, Marks Express and Cassini-Huygens. Professor Southwood also discussed future space missions Planck, which will look for the shockwave of the Big Bang, and Herschel, ESA’s space observatory, both due to launch at the end of April. Professor Southwood was received with great enthusiasm in the Edmund Burke Theatre, TCD: after his lecture, the halls were buzzing with people talking excitedly about “that breathtaking video”, and how they couldn’t believe “that Ireland does so much work in space”.

Order your copy of this gripping and captivating lecture on DVD here or by calling (01) 847 0777 (alternatively post a cheque or postal order to: March 2009 DVD, Astronomy Ireland, PO. Box 2888, Dublin 5). DVDs of this and past lectures are just €7 each (add €5 for P&P for any number of DVDs).