Associate Professor Rolf Hellebust of the University of Nottingham will give an illustrated lecture on the history of Soviet space exploration as a symbol of utopian desire. Starting from the pre-revolutionary period of communist cosmic utopianism, it covers proletarian poetry and science fiction and the triumphs of the Soviet cosmonauts, together with the deconstruction of official mythology as the Soviet state toppled. Afterwards there will be a chance to explore the evening sky, courtesy of the NTU observatory and its telescopes with Dr. Dan Brown, Astronomy Development and Outreach Officer (weather permitting