Latest News:
News and new items of interest to Herefordshire Astronomical Society members
- What's Next - Meeting - 5th July - Comet Observing
Our next event is the monthly meeting at the Kindle Centre.
Guy Hurst, Editor of The Astronomer magazine and BAA Observations Section Assistant Director, gives us a talk on observing comets."The Astronomer" monthly magazine has been published since 1964 and Guy has been editor since 1975 - so over 40 years! In 1976 Guy formed the UK Nova/Supernova patrol to encourage amateur astronomers to search for these exploding stars. The numerous successes using both simple binoculars and more advanced electronic telescopes means the project appeals to many observers.
From 2001 to 2003, he was President of the British Astronomical Association and earlier, in June 1998, received the Walter Goodacre Medal from the Association - this is the most prestigious award made by the BAA. In October 2005 Guy received an award from the Royal Astronomical Society (professional astronomers) for services to astronomy.
Have a look here at The Astronomer magazine. Guy is BAA Officer for the UK Nova/Supernova Patrol. Have a look around the BAA here.
Thursday 5th July 2018
7 - 9 pmComet Observing - visitors to our solar system
Guy Hurst, Editor of The Astronomer magazine and BAA Observations Section Assistant Director, gives us a talk on observing comets.
- Observing Highlights
Observing highlights for this month: Telescope House - monthly night sky guide
- Member's photo
Here's another great astro photo by a HAS member - part of the Pelican Nebula IC5070, 105 minutes of Ha through a Star71 on a CEM60 mount, guided, 20th May 2018:
- Society Visit to Madley BT Communication Centre and Earth Station - 5th April
We were very lucky with our April meeting visit the Madley BT Communication Centre and Earth Station - no rain! Ian Collins kindly showed us round the site and facilities and did a grand job and thanks to Bob Bowden for organising the visit for us. The big dishes are impressive close up - although size doesn't seem to matter so much with more sensitive receivers and more powerful satellites.
There's some information about the site and services supported at Madley here.
- Visit to Norman Lockyer Observatory and Herschel Museum, Bath - 10-11th March
Members who were able to go on the society trip to the Norman Lockyer Observatory outside Sidmouth and the Herschel Museum in Bath had a great weekend. As David put it "a really enjoyable and stimulating time away. Thanks for organising it Paul.".
Here's a photo of the intrepid party taken by Ken's wife in the garden where Sir William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781:
Next Meeting:
Have a look at the rest of our programme for 2017/2018 here.
| Thursday 5th July 2018 7 - 9 pm |
Comet observing: Visitors to our Solar System Guy Hurst (Editor of The Astronomer magazine) |
Next Observing Session:
Well, we're near enough at mid-summer's day - which is good news for astronomers - the days are getting shorter and the days are getting longer !
We are proposing to use Fownhope Recreation Field for our observing sessions later this year. There is hard standing by the Pavillion at the end of the drive for us to park and set up equipment. Chris and Mark have checked out the facility and it looks to be a good dark site with excellent 360 degree visibility. We will also have more flexibility with timings - so we can stay later than 9pm if we have some clear skies. We will also have a bit more flexibility on the days - so if the Thursday is forecast to be cloudy but Wednesday or Friday look better we should be able to switch our observing evening.
We start our observing sessions in October and after the clocks change on 28th October we'll be able to start the sessions a bit earlier - look out for emails from Mark with timings and details.
We still want to keep in contact with Berrington Hall (The National Trust) as they've been very good to us over the last few years. Hopefully we can continue to run Star Parties for them.
So come and talk to new or more experienced society members - hopefully have a look through some telescopes and binoculars at the night sky. Share your thoughts, pick up some observing tips and recommendations, discuss your astronomical problems and projects, bring your own equipment for advice on how best to use it. We may change the observing meeting to the another evening if the weather forecast indicates it would be better. Members can bring their own refreshments although we don't expect to have access to The Pavillion of we need cover (there's always The Greenman or The New Inn if needs must!). Look out for the latest news on this website and we'll email out any change to arrangements to members.
| 11th October 2018 6:30 - 9 pm |
Fownhope Recreation Field Practical observing and advice session. More information here. |
Next Star Party:
We had a great Star Party with the Madley Environmental Study Centre (MESC) on 22nd February. The clouds managed to clear out of the way in the evening so we were able to give a mix of talks by Mark and observing through half a dozen or so telescopes and binoculars brought along by society members. For some grown ups and children attending it was the first time they'd looked through a telescope and seen the moon close up or looked at stars, clusters and nebulae - much to their delight. For pretty much all of us, it was the first time we'd heard of and seen the "Lunar X" - only visible for a couple of hours each month (here).
Next Star Party TBD.
| TBD | Star Party More information here. |
Once or twice a year, members like to jump in cars or climb in a mini-bus and make their way to go and see something interesting outside of Herefordshire (passports not required - so far). Previous trips have been to the Spaceguard Centre, the International Astronomy Show, the National Space Centre, Jodrell Bank and this year a weekend trip that took in the Norman Lockyer Observatory outside Sidmouth and the Herschel Museum in Bath.
Members pay for shared transport and any entrance fees as appropriate..
Next visit TBD.
| TBD |
Where would you like to go ?
This year the society visited the Norman Lockyer Observatory, the Lockyer Technology Centre (radio astronomy) and the Planetarium in Sidmouth, Devon. It was a great weekend.
If there's somewhere you'd like us to organise a trip to - drop a member of the committee a line with your suggestion (contact details here). |