This Christmas the Manx Museum brings a take on the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, with a talk entitled “Cregneash, we have a problem” by local astronomer and space historian Howard Parkin, who will take an irreverent and amusing look at the Isle of Man space programme. The lecture is being held on Saturday 21st December at 2.30pm and will include a look at just why we are regarded as the fifth most likely nation to return a man to the Moon!
 
Using exclusive footage, Howard will tell us all about the various Manx space launch initiatives, and play a rendition of The Shenanigans Band, (the infamous Manx folk rock band) song, "The Isle of Man's joined the space race" as well as some of the more humorous attempts of mankind attempts to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond.
 
As well as a keen astronomer and renowned speaker on the subject, Howard is Director of Astromanx, an astronomy promotion company leading the Isle of Man’s Dark Skies initiative, and also Chairman of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society.
 
Howard said;
"We thought it would be fun to take a seasonal and humorous look at "Mann" kinds attempts to explore strange new worlds and to boldly go where no Manx man has gone before!"

Entry to the lecture is free, but please ensure you arrive early as seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis.