The Parkes telescope - one of the largest in the world

A group of Cardiff students took control of one of the world’s most powerful radio telescopes this week as part of an innovative Cardiff University astronomy link-up.

AS and A-level students from Cardiff schools including Whitchurch High and Howells visited the University’s School of Physics and Astronomy which is playing host to the Parkes telescope, one of the world’s most powerful radio telescopes.

The 64m radio telescope, situated 400km west of Sydney, Australia was used to receive the television transmission of the Apollo 11 moon walk in 1969 and allows astronomers the chance to observe pulsars, along with a whole host of other astronomical observations.

By remotely accessing the radio telescope and working directly with the telescope’s Australian-based operators, students will be given the chance to view pulsars – which are spinning, magnetised neutron stars, left over from massive star explosions.

Pulsars spin and emit radio waves in beams from their poles. The spinning causes the beams to sweep across the Earth, creating pulses of radio waves. By taking control of the telescopes the students have the chance to witness first-hand some of the most striking images and undertake real-time scientific research.

Mr Chris North, from Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, said: “Pulse@Parkes is an innovative project that allows students interested in astronomy a unique opportunity to take control of one of the world’s most powerful radio telescope. We are delighted to be hosting it here in Cardiff for its first visit to the UK.

“The students will have the chance to take part in real science with the measurements adding to an archive which may eventually help scientists detect the elusive gravitational waves predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity.”

The event is open to A-level and AS-level students with a keen interest in astronomy. The measurements used by the students will also form part of an archive of data that is used to monitor and record the characteristics of pulsars throughout our galaxy, such their distance, their rate of spin and any unusual characteristics.

Cardiff University’s Astronomy Group carries out research in many areas of astronomy, in particular the formation of stars, the origin and evolution of galaxies and the cosmic microwave background.

The University’s School of Physics and Astronomy has one of the most active Gravitational Physics Groups, and remains one of the largest research groups in the School. The Group’s search for gravitational waves is focused on transient events such as supernovae and binary neutron stars and black holes, and stochastic gravitational waves.

More than 74,000 people are expected at the Millennium Stadium for the match, which kicks off at 5.15pm, and people travelling to Cardiff are advised to plan their journey in advance. Drivers are also advised to allow extra time for their journey into Cardiff as widening works on the M4 may cause congestion at the busiest times.

The best way to travel to Cardiff is by car share or by using park and ride.

The park and ride site at the Cardiff City stadium at Leckwith (YELLOW CAR PARK) can be accessed from J33 of the M4. The car park will have a staff presence from 9am, will open at 9:30am, with the first bus at 9.30am. The last bus will leave the pick-up points at 9pm, with the car park closing at 9.30pm.

The drop off point for Leckwith is on Tresillian Way north at the rear of the railway station. Pick-up after the game will be at two locations in Callaghan Square – Callaghan Square north in the lay-by next to Eversheds and Tresillian Way north, at rear of railway station.

The park and ride service costs £5 per car which includes the bus. The services are accessible for the disabled, people with movement difficulties and wheelchair users, with dedicated parking next to the bus pick-up. Low floor buses and raised kerbs at both pick up and drop off points will also be in use.

Coach parking will be provided off Sophia Close where there are dedicated coach parking areas with driver facilities. The cost is £5 per coach.

The following road closures will also take place.

• Between 3.30pm and 8.30pm Kingsway from its junction with North Rd / Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with Duke Street.
• Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street.
• Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents & traders will be permitted).
• Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted)

The following roads will be closed in their entirety:

Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St.Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.

Ryan advises fans to pre-register for tickets

Over 13,500 people have taken the advice of Wales captain Ryan Jones and pre-registered for tickets to the 2010 RBS Six Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium – launched via the Welsh Rugby Union’s website on Saturday, 21 November.

Wales will play three games at the Millennium Stadium next year as they chase their third championship title in six seasons and fans from all over Wales have registered their support for the national squad via www.wru.co.uk and joined a priority list for access to any tickets the WRU has for release prior to public sale.

Last week Ryan Jones took time out of his gruelling schedule to encourage fans to sign up and get behind their national team for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship which brings Scotland to Wales (February 13), sees France arrive for the first championship Friday night fixture at the Millennium Stadium (February 26) and welcomes Italy for the 2010 championship final Saturday (March 20).

The build-up to the championship has been a healthy one with Wales boasting victories over Canada and the USA during the pre-season tour to North America and recent results at the home of Welsh rugby this Autumn closing the gap with New Zealand and defeating Samoa and Argentina respectively.

It means Wales have risen to sixth in the IRB world rankings – above England and Argentina – ahead of their clash on Saturday against third placed Australia.

A sell-out crowd will turn out at the iconic rugby venue this weekend when Wales take on the Wallabies and WRU Head of Group Compliance Julie Paterson urges fans that have missed out to pre-register now and be in with a chance to snap up tickets for Welsh rugby’s next enormous event.

She said: “Over the last three seasons we have looked at our ticketing strategies and tried to benefit the consistent fans out there who are not directly linked to a club. The pre-registration process allows fans to register their interest in the championship and get the first chance to buy any tickets that are unclaimed by our member clubs.

“We’ve had huge response since we launched on Saturday as the fans are now familiar with this system and understand that for the big games, when there is no general sale, the only tickets available are offered to fans who have signed up.”

Fans will be asked for their name and contact details only and will be given a passcode to access and pay for tickets to the games when they are released.

Julie added: “This system does not take your money at the point of registration and allows members the option to pay for any tickets that are unclaimed by our member clubs and debenture holders prior to the games.”

Ticket prices for the RBS Six Nations are £25, £45, £58, £63 and £68. Details of hospitality packages will be released on Saturday – to pre-register for this information please contact hospitality@wru.co.uk.

Fixture Schedule (GMT)

Week 1

• Saturday 6th February
• 14:30 – Ireland v Italy
• 17:00 – England v Wales

Sunday 7th February

• 15:00 – Scotland v France

Week 2

Saturday 13th February

• 14:00 – Wales v Scotland
• 16:30 (17:30 local) – France v Ireland

Sunday 14th February

• 14.30 (15:30 local) – Italy v England

Week 3

• 20/21 February – Rest Weekend

Week 4

Friday 26th February

• 20:00 – Wales v France

Saturday 27th February

• 13:30 (14:30 local) – Italy v Scotland
• 16:00 – England v Ireland

Week 5

• 6/7 March – Rest Weekend

Week 6

Saturday 13th March

• 14:30 – Ireland v Wales
• 17:00 – Scotland v England

Sunday 14th March

• 14:30 (15.30 local) – France v Italy

Week 7

Saturday 20th March

• 14:30 – Wales v Italy
• 17:00 – Ireland v Scotland
• 19:45 (20:45 local) – France v England