News
« Older Entries | Newer Entries »July meeting
Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013
Another good one! Welcome to the fold to our new members and to our visitors, hope you enjoyed the evening. The ‘Ask the experts’ session proved to be very useful especially to beginners but also to those of more experience. Amazing what hints and tips we all carry around that can be useful to others. This was a good opportunity to share these. Thanks to Arthur for his Sky Notes and Bob for his ‘Object of the month’. Thanks too to Bill for his images, especially that one of the Veil Nebula and Andromeda mosaic. The sun has been kind so I was able to show some solar images.
Next month’s ‘X-planes and the space race’ should be fascinating.
Weather permitting, our Perseid viewing evening will be on 12 August at the field in Hazelbury Plucknett. Get there around 9.30 or so. A map can be found elsewhere on this website. It can be surprisingly chilly, so warm stuff needed. Bring something comfortable to sit/lie on and a warm drink too.
If you haven’t put your name down for our planned trip to the ‘Visions of the Universe’ exhibition at the National Maritime Museum please contact me asap using the contact link on this website. So far it’s looking like either the 7th or 14th September. The cost will be £6.50 entrance plus whatever it will cost us to hire a minibus or similar.
Don’t forget the South West Astronomy Fair at the Norman Lockyer Observatory, Sidmouth on 10 August. Well worth a visit!
Nasa have just released their ‘pale blue dot’ shot of the earth taken by Cassini from behind Saturn. Beautiful! You can find it here-
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/23jul_palebluedot/
Ron
June meeting
Monday, June 24th, 2013
Great evening! We hope our visitors enjoyed themselves.
Many thanks to John Macdonald for his fascinating introduction to the world of sundials. We certainly discovered that there’s a whole lot more to using the sun to tell the time than it first appears. Congratulations to all who completed their models. It has to be said that Lorna’s was outstanding. Well done Lorna. For me, one highlight of the evening was seeing the dexterity with which Bill handled his scissors . His astro images of course, were also again outstanding. Is there no end to this man’s talents?? 
We’re hoping to organise a trip to the National Maritime Museum to take in the ‘Visions of Space’ exhibition which ends in early September. We will need to know the names of those interested by the next meeting but you can email me before then to register an interest.
Next month is our ‘Ask the experts’ evening. Do bring along any astronomical questions you might have. If you would like help with any of your kit, then bring it along too.
Finally, one of our members is selling an HEQ5 mount (without tripod) and a Starwatcher 8 in reflector. Please let me know if you might be interested.
Ron
June meeting. Sundial materials.
Tuesday, May 28th, 2013
Hello everyone,
Here are the materials to bring to our sundial talk and workshop at our June meeting on Wednesday 19th June. If you can’t get hold of something just bring what you can as I’m sure we can share stuff. Should be good fun as well as being instructive. See you there.
The evening will consist of a short presentation on “How Sundials
Work” followed by a workshop where members/visitors can construct a
Diptych consisting two sundial faces (horizontal and vertical).
The equipment needed to draw out the sundial faces:
Pencil (plus sharpener if possible)
Ruler
Eraser
Protractor
Pair of compasses
A4 paper, at least two sheets
To construct the Diptych, people will need:
Cardboard from a cereal packet (or something similar)
Scissors
String, wool or thread to act as the gnomon and cast the shadow
Implement such as a paper clip that has been straightened to make
holes in the cardboard to thread the wool / string through
Pritt type glue
Sticky tape such as Cellotape
and for the deluxe version – a button, which the wool / string can
be threaded through.
May meeting.
Thursday, May 16th, 2013
Well, wasn’t that a good one! Many thanks to Sheri Lynn Karl for that hot (and cold) tour of our various solar system effusions. What a dynamic and varied lot these rocky and icy bodies are. A tale well told too. We were promised a good speaker and that is exactly what we got. Thanks, too, to Bob and Arthur for their presentations and to Bud and Bill for sharing their excellent images. Farming on the moon Bill? I think we’ll need to check out those ‘furrows’ again.
Next month’s topic on sundials promises to be fascinating. Don’t forget to check here nearer the time for what to bring. From solar system vulcanology to sundials; can’t say Bob doesn’t put together a varied programme for us. Thanks Bob.
Bob Mizon talk
Monday, May 13th, 2013
On May 21st, Bob Mizon will be giving a talk on the Hubble Space Telescope and its images at the Village Hall, Othery. (This is in conjunction with the Othery Society). It’s Bob Mizon, so a great evening is guaranteed. Refreshments will be provided and the bar will be open. An evening not to be missed!
Please contact Paul on 01823698156 or e-email him on Skyatnight@hotmail.co.uk for further details.
8 May Fireball
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Bill Reed spotted a brilliant fireball on evening of 8th possibly part of the Eta Aquarid stream . Lucky devil. He was briefly interviewed by Heart Radio this morning.
Astro Show Leamington Spa
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
Anyone going to the May17/18 International Astro Show? If so, could you help Bob Mizon and the Campaign for Dark Skies? The note below from Bob explains how…
…Is anyone going to the Intern’l Astro Show in Leamington Spa on May 17/18? I can’t make it myself and the Campaign for Dark Skies needs some leaflets taken up on Friday (17th) (not a heavy load), and someone to keep an eye on the CfDS table (just info material, not sales) on the Saturday (18th). (For the latter, I could get you in free as an exhibitor)
Bob Mizon
If you can help, either contact Bob directly if you can or go to http://www.mizar-astro.freeserve.co.uk Alternatively you can use the information on this site to get in touch with me or use the contact form on this site and we’ll pass the message on.
Thanks
Ron
May meeting.
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Gadgets and gizmos galore! What a collection of bits and pieces we make/collect/ acquire. It was really a case of the sublime to the cor blimey last night. From image stabilized binoculars to bits of cardboard and duct tape and scrap wood via illuminated shoelaces! What a weird lot us astronomers are.
On other matters, thanks again to Bob Mizon for his sky tour, and information on the possible, maybe, perhaps upcoming Comet ISON show.Hope I’ve qualified it enough Bob.
Next month’s talk by Sheri Lynn Karl on ‘Vulcanology in the Solar System’ is a must! Sheri is a great speaker and it’s good to have her back.
BAA Winchester Weekend
Monday, April 8th, 2013
Another excellent Winchester Weekend 5 to 7 April with great presentations. Arthur Davis, John Chuter, Adrian Owen and I had a great time. Even comet Pan STARRS put in an appearance. Unfortunately none of us won anything on Bob Mizon’s raffle in aid of CfDS though. 
Can thoroughly recommend this event.
Ron