Tom Boles is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and former President of The British Astronomical Association. He has been awarded The Merlin and Walter Goodacre Medals for his contribution to astronomy. The International Astronomical Union has named main-belt asteroid, 7648, Tomboles in his honour. He has discovered more supernovae, dying stars, than any other individual in history. Boles's Television broadcasts include: Co-presenting BBC Tomorrow's World and guest appearances on several BBC programmes such as The Sky at Night, Final Frontiers, All Night Star Party (from Jodrell Bank); BBC Astronomers and ITV Vera Productions. Radio Broadcasts include Radio 2, Suffolk Radio, BBC Essex, Radio Northampton, Three Counties Radio, Radio Scotland, World Radio (Netherlands) and BBC Citizen Science.

Tom is an accomplished speaker who is on top of his subject, allowing him to present without notes. He is animated on stage and his aim is to talk to and entertain his audiences rather than lecture to them. Tom has successfully escorted eclipse, northern lights and meteor shower trips and hosted 'deckwatches' to give guests the opportunity to witness the night sky and whatever else that is of interest for the relevant date, time and season. He has experience on demonstrating to guests both the northern and southern hemisphere constellations and objects of interest. Talks are tailored for each trip with research done on each destination port allowing items of local astronomical or scientific interest to be included where those exist.

1. An Escorted Cruise... …into the Cosmos.
Ever wondered what the Universe is and what it is made of? This is an easy to understand introduction to everything that exists in space and the cosmos. Learn astronomy from the very basic to the more complex. Find out about planets outside our solar system and consider the possibilities of life elsewhere in the Universe.

2. Are we alone in the Universe? The Search for Extra-terrestrial life.
What is life? What is needed for it to come into being? Is it ubiquitous as some scientists believe or are we alone in this huge Universe? Learn about extremophiles on Earth. How do we look for extra-terrestrial life and what have we discovered so far? What are our plans to discover life in the future?

3. How Stars are born… …and how they die.
---- from the very small to the very large. Find out how stars are born from clouds of hydrogen in space. Follow them through into maturity and eventually old age. Discover how they hand down their attributes to the next generation.
Find out the spectacular ways that stars finally die. We will contrast giant stars with dwarf stars and explain the advantages of having a small yellow dwarf star as our Sun and why our Sun will live for such a long time.

4. Killer stars… …could the Universe kill us?
Threats from Deep Space: exploding stars; supernovae; black holes; cosmic rays; gamma ray bursts; how can they hurt us? How close would they need to be? Are there any within that distance? What history of disasters from space is visible in the geological record? (Stories of tremendous energetic explosions and potentially damaging radiation from space: but the Earth is in a privileged position and we are all safe)

5. How the Universe was born… …and how it might die.
Discover how what we know of the Universe has changed since Galileo first used the telescope 400 years ago right to the discovery of mysterious dark matter and dark energy in the last decade. Discover what the Big Bang is and how the Universe is expanding ever faster every day.

6. What are black holes, Neutron Stars and Worm Holes?
Do they really exist and how do we know? Can we prove it? What strange properties do these things possess and what has Albert Einstein got to do with them? Learn about one particular super massive black hole. How do you observe something that is invisible? Could Star Trek science work?

7. My Favourite Pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope.
…the best pictures ever. See the best pictures from Hubble. See the planets in exquisite detail. Discover where stars are born and new planetary systems being formed. Observe the furthest objects even photographed. See the Universe in amazing colour. Be able to look at future pictures and understand what you are seeing.

8. Giant Telescopes, the biggest eyes in the skies.
The story from Galileo’s simple telescope to today’s largest instruments that are housed in astronomical cathedrals in some of the world’s highest and driest places. Learn how US military technology (from its ‘star Wars’ programme) is used to make telescopes see farther and clearer than ever before.
Learn about telescopes other than the Hubble Space Telescope that operate in invisible light from space.

9. Cosmic Butterflies.
See the wonders of planetary nebulae. They come in all shapes and colours. They are shaped like bubbles butterflies and bow ties. Have their colours and shapes Explained. See how our Sun will eventually die and when. (to the nearest billion years of course). These are surely the most beautiful sights in the heavens and like butterflies they survive such a short while.

10. The Northern Lights … Nature’s Spectacular Light Show.
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is one of the most spectacular natural light shows on Earth. Learn where and when to see them, what causes them and enjoy wonderful pictures and time lapse movies, some taken this year from within the Arctic Circle.

11. Tips on Photographing the Northern Lights.
Learn tips and tricks on how to photograph the Aurora Borealis; what equipment is needed and to set up and use your camera to get the best results from this spectacular lightshow.

12. The Wonder and Beauty of Solar Eclipses.
What they are; when they happen; what to expect and how to observe them safely; the great coincidence of sizes; things to look for; explanations of 1st, 2nd and 3rd contact; background and history; the joys of being an eclipse chaser; how observing at sea can often be best. Discover how the ancients managed to accurately predict eclipses without modern computers.

13. Tips on Photographing Eclipses of the Sun.
Discover how to take first class photographs of this beautiful phenomenon. What Equipment do you need and how do you use it to get the very best results.

14. How I Discover Supernovae?
How is it done and why do it? What are supernovae? What methods do I use to discover them in my personal research? Find out what telescopes I use and what motivates me to continue. What can astronomy learn from the discovery of supernovae? Could you do it? Would you want to? Could our Sun go supernova?

15. How was the Milky Way Discovered?
How was the Milky Way discovered? How big is it? What is it made of? For those who like science with an historical slant. I will tell of the early attempts of astronomers to find the shape and size of out galaxy, and just how amazing and accurate their results were, given their crude equipment and methods.

16. The Cosmic Distance Ladder.
Learn how astronomers measure the vast distances to the planets; to the stars; to the galaxies and to the edge of the visible Universe itself. How can we be sure that our distances are correct? Learn how astronomers use light to observe objects from the distant past.

17. Space Weather – How the Sun affects and protects Earth.
The 11 year solar cycle; its effects on sunspots; the solar corona and prominences; dangerous coronal mass ejections; the Earth’s magnetic field; how it protects us; the aurorae (northern and southern lights – with pictures and explanations of colours); evolution of life on Earth and the protection from the ozone layer; our wonderful and fortunate planet.

18. Shooting Stars, Meteor Showers and Comets – What are they, where do they come from?
Meteor showers and comets can be closely related. Shooting stars can give spectacular displays in the night sky, yet the cause of these beautiful displays often originates in the most distance areas of our solar system. Like comets they come from far beyond the most distance planet. When they land as meteorites, they bring with them secrets from beyond our Solar System.

What is Visible in the Sky Tonight? (Stargazing on deck) Weather permitting.

See what is visible in the sky tonight and if weather permits go outside and spot the visible planets and star clusters either by eye or with binoculars. Spot meteors (shooting stars) and learn some of the major constellations. Impress your family and friends.
Four Practical Sessions from the Ship’s Deck
These will consist of learning the constellations and interesting objects visible in the sky for the given season. Split into four seasons:
- Learn the Spring (or Summer or Autumn or Winter) Night Sky.
- A tour of the sky for the current season will be given. The time of the year will dictate which season and therefore which area of sky will be visible.
Before going outside a description on what is currently visible in the sky can be shown using planetarium software on a PC. Any visible planets will be described in advance. The movement of the stars, and how they change from night to night and season and reason, will be explained.

The main constellations are pointed out for each season. The names; colours and sizes and of their stars are described. Tips will be given on how to photograph stars with an ordinary domestic camera.
The Milky Way will be outlined and the pattern of bright stars associated it will be pointed out. Where appropriate, associations with mythological legends will be described.
The positions of all visible planets will be pointed out and discussed.
Southern hemisphere constellations and Magellanic Clouds will be shown when visible.
Anyone with binoculars will be encouraged and shown how to just browse where the stars are most interesting, for pleasure. Any visible nebulae will be pointed out. Astronomy is a fun science.Also for fun, we will try to find birth sign constellations for anyone interested when each season permits.

I have given many talks on Cunard and programmed and operated their onboard planetarium. Also I have given many talks on Saga and led Northern Lights and Solar Eclipse trips as their 'on board' astronomer.

PREVIOUS CRUISES COMPLETED
SAGA Pearl II SA222 27th Feb 2012 Northern Lights – Norway
SAGA Sapphire SA223 12th Mar 2012 Northern Lights – Norway
SAGA Sapphire TTS39 18th Oct 2012 Total Solar Eclipse – Africa
SAGA Sapphire SA243 6th Jan 2013 Canary island Coasts
Queen Mary 2 M207 22nd May 2012 S’oton – NY
Queen Mary 2 M221 4th Sept 2012 S’oton – S’oton (Spain)
Queen Mary 2 M222 14th Sept 2012 S’oton – NY
Queen Mary 2 M233 15th Dec 2012 S’oton – NY
Queen Mary 2 M303-1 18th Dec 2013 S’oton – Dubai
Queen Mary 2 M318-N 15th Aug 2013 NY – Hamburg
Queen Mary 2 M403-2 28th Jan 2014 Capetown - Sydney