The 2014 Starmus Festival, held in the Canary Islands on September 22–27, was truly a spectacular event. It brought together numerous astronomers, cosmologists, astronaut-explorers, musicians, and artists for a week of talks, music, socializing, a film premiere, and much more. With a theme of “Beginnings: The Making of the Modern Cosmos,” it hosted more than 800 people to hear from a list of world-renowned speakers, including festival founder Garik Isrealian and his good friend and Queen lead guitarist Brian May; celebrated cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space; Nobel Prize winners Harry Kroto, John Mather, and Robert Wilson; theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking; and many others. I also had the opportunity to speak, and Astronomy magazine served as Starmus’ exclusive media partner.
I took hundreds of images while at this amazing event, but only a few could fit in my May issue roundup of the festival. So below find some more highlights, and also enjoy a video of Brian May performing Queen's “39,” which incorporates a story of time dilation from relativity theory, at the Sonic Universe Concert.
The 10.4-meter Gran Telescopio Canarias on La Palma, the world’s largest optical telescope, served as a backdrop for the Starmus Festival.
Starmus Round Table speaker John Mather, project scientist of the James Webb Space Telescope, with fellow speaker Harry Kroto (left).
The 108-minute Round Table underneath the Gran Telescopio Canarias featured discussions with (from left) Walt Cunningham, Robert Wilson, Rafael Rebolo, Robert Williams, Garik Israelian, Harry Kroto, and John Mather.
Rick Wakeman, legendary keyboardist of the rock group Yes, plays during the Sonic Universe Concert.
Brian May unleashes a solo during the Sonic Universe Concert.
Rick Wakeman plays with his band at the Sonic Universe Concert.
The first human to walk in space, legendary cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, lectures on the final full day of Starmus.
Stephen Hawking receives a standing ovation and prepares for a talk on the creation of the universe.
Brian May and Alexei Leonov discuss the festival on the opening morning.
Nobel Prize-winning chemist Harry Kroto delivers an absorbing talk on nanochemistry during one of the conference’s early days.
The 3-D astro stereo imaging talk by Brian May drew a huge crowd at the Magma Congreso & Arte Center.
Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins (left) and Astronomy Editor Dave Eicher discuss the meaning of life over dinner.
