AstroFest 2009

The highlights of the two day astronomy extravaganza in pictures, as captured by Astronomy Now's professional photographer Max Alexander. All images copyright Max Alexander/Astronomy Now.

Astronomy Now's graphic illustrator Greg Smye-Rumsby kicked the lecture programme off with a three-dimensional tour of the Universe.

The University of Central Lancashire's Astro Quiz proved popular!

Always a friendly smile at Britain's Society for Popular Astronomy stand.

A conference attendee admires some astronomical art.

Patrick Moore, Gary Hunt and Reg Turnill regaled a packed audience with tales of the Apollo missions.

Reg Turnill covered it all, including the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin and the dramas of Apollo 13.

Ian Ridpath directs questions from the floor to the trio on everything from the future of lunar exporation to methane on Mars.

Patrick Moore signs space memorabilia for a keen young stargazer.

Whatever happened to Pluto?! Roberto Trotta of Imperial College London discusses the origin of the Universe and the laws that govern the nature of the physical world.

The Astelco NTM-500 research-grade mount worth £30,000 drew quite a crowd!

As well as telescopes, conference delagates could purchase dvds, planet globes, t-shirts, posters and more from Armagh Plantarium's colourful stand.

Johan Knapen described the evolution of galaxies like our own Milky Way Galaxy.

The latest array of telescopes fascinated astronomers of all ages.

AstroFest exhibitors provided the chance to examine the latest pieces of equpiment with professional advice.

Allan Chapman rounded off the weekend with an insightful look at the life of Thomas Harriot, Galileo's english contemporary who observed the Moon with a telescope four months before Galileo.

For a full report on Europe's spectacular astronomy showdown, get your hands on a copy of the April issue of Astronomy Now, available from 19 March.