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2015/2016 Archive pages:
Star Parties
Georgian Astronomy - Berrington Hall
Saturday 31st October 2015.
We're planning a Star Party jointly with the National Trust at Berrington Hall. It will have a Georgian astronomy theme and hopefully will also involve the Herschel Museum, Bath. We hope to have a number of talks, a planetarium, practical demonstrations of equipment and astronomical software and, of course weather permitting, solar and night sky observing.
Saturday 31st Oct 2015
2 - 9 pm
Star Party - Georgian Astronomy - Berrington Hall
Afternoon:
2pm-5pm - solar observing with white light and Ha
3pm - Talk by Bob Marriott - Director of the Instruments & Imaging Section of the British Astronomical Association. Bob will give a talk on Herschel and his telescopes in the afternoon - he will be bringing an actual telescope from the Georgian period and talking about Herschelian optics including speculum mirrors.
4pm - Talk by Paul Olver - 'Outer Edges of the Solar System' which will cover the two outer gas giants and the intricacies of their discovery.
Mark Chamberlain - video on 'sizes in the universe' and Stellarium demonstration showing in particular the night sky on 13th March 1781
Gates will stay open for the public until 6pm and the Tea Room until 7pm
Evening:
6.30pm - 9pm - observing if clear. This will include a laser pointing session at the various Constellations, Deep Sky Objects etc. We hope we'll have the society's Cole Celestron scope and Mark will bring his Orion VX8 which he wrote the Owners Review in the current issue of the BBC Sky at Night magazine. If you are also able to bring scopes either for solar viewing or the evening's observing event please let Mark know.
Otherwise
Talks by Bob Marriott, Paul Olver, maybe Chris Millington, Astrophotography + video and Stellarium.
Members of HAS can enter FREE by showing their membership card - so please remember to bring your membership card !
Dark Sky Astronomy Evening - MESC - Mon 14th March 2016.
We're planning an evening observing the night sky at the Madley Environmental Study Centre (MESC) on Monday 14th March 2016. This will be a public event with members of the Herefordshire Astronomical Society bringing telescopes and guiding visitors to the wonders of the night sky. If the weather is inclement, the event will still go ahead with members giving talks in the MESC cabins. If you are bringing telescopes or equipment, access will be available from 6pm for you to set up. HAS members bringing telescopes or giving talks will be admitted free. Other HAS members attending will be charged the concessionary entrance fee of £4. Members of the public will be charged £6. Refreshments are included in the entrance price,:
Monday 14th March 2016
7 - 9 pm
Transit of Mercury - TBD - Monday 9th May 2016.
The transit of Mercury will take place on Monday 9th May 2016. The planet will be crossing the Sun's disk from 12:15 pm through to 7:40 pm. Please look out for emails from Mark with information on where best to observe the event - weather permitting.
Our Observing Secretary, Mark, has looked at the weather forecast and, as it is expected to be cloudy in Hereford, he has laid out the following plan for members:
Will meet at Aylestone Park at 9.30am to leave no later than 9.45am
Don't know about long term parking at Aylestone Park so you will need to be aware of this if leaving your car
Will head for the Stafford North Service Area between junction 14 and 15 on the M6
Will only be allowed to stay for 2 hours (parking charges at 2 hours) but should be able to view the start of the Transit plus maybe until 1.30pm
Will then drive up to Junction 15 and then drive down the other side of the M6 to Stafford South Service Area for another 2 hours
I have one place remaining in the car (Chris Millington is joining me) the scopes will fill the boot and the 4th passenger seat.
This means you could come later if you wish either the North side or South Side after 2pm.
Don't forget you will not be able to view this event with eclipse glasses but you could undertake projection onto a white card making sure your eyepieces are not plastic - they will melt!!
I will have a 4" APO refractor with Herschel Wedge + Hydrogen Alpha scope so you are welcome to view the Transit with my kit.
Don't forget if you want to see the start we will be leaving at 9.45am the Transit won't wait.
Mark, Chris, James and David went chasing after Mercury on Monday and successfully found it initially at the M6 Sandbach Service Area and then far more comfortably outside the Robin Hood at Congleton - here are some splendid photos from their day trip:
Perfect spot to observe the Transit
Chris has spotted the Sun
James captures Second Contact (can you see it - just after 9pm?)
Mark beautifully captures Mercury against the sun's disk
Close up of Mercury near the sunspots
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