Meetings (2016/2017)

Local research on how dark our skies really are

Dr Chris Baddiley, one of the founder members of Worcester AS and a committee member on the BAA's Campaign for Dark Skies. Chris will talk about light pollution and recent findings in Herefordshire.

The first few seconds of time

Christianne Wakeham - Open University, University of Worcester, MESC

Christianne is an educationalist with extensive experience in Higher Education, workforce development and community-based learning as a teacher, course designer and mentor. A scientist by training, Christianne has a degree in Applied Physics and an MSc in Medical Science. She is the Programme Leader for the University of Worcester/Bulmer Foundation’s Master’s Degree in Sustainable Development Advocacy and the new Postgraduate Certificate in Evaluation for a Sustainable Future. Christianne taught undergraduate science at the Open University for twelve years. She is also chair of trustees for Madley Environmental Study Centre MESC where we've had the pleasure of meeting her on our various visits and star parties at the centre. Her talk is on cosmology focusing on the early universe and will try to make particle physics more accessible.

Practical spectroscopy - exploring the secrets of starlight

Jack Martin, author of the book "A Spectroscopic Atlas of Bright Stars", will give an introduction to the concepts of spectroscopy, how to do it and show examples of stellar spectra and what they tell us.

It's written in the stars

Our very own Chris Millington presents one of his thoughtful talks.

Chris looks at the patterns man has seen in the sky over the centuries and the stories and names he has attributed to them.

AGM and Members Papers Evening

Our AGM followed by a talk from Gordon Haynes.

Thank you everyone that attended our AGM and for your suggestions on what can be changed and improved. Please pass on any other ideas and feedback you have to one of the committee members - email addresses are on the "Contact Us" page.

We mentioned the Stargazers Lounge as a great forum for anyone with an interest in astronomy to meet like minded people from beginners to experts and a very friendly place to ask questions - take a look round and if you like it join up and join in the discussions - it's all here .

We were delighted to have Gordon Haynes give our talk following the AGM. Gordon described how he got into astrophotography and the great opportunities he's had to test out the latest equipment, give talks at NEAIC/NEAF in New York and even have an article published in Astronomy magazine. Gordon then showed us his latest projects - star trail and time lapse photography culminating in a terrific night sky time lapse movie taken at Grwyne Fawr reservoir and British Camp. To see more of what Gordon's done over the years have a look his website here .

9th Annual Webb Lecture: Silver on glass revolution

Bob Marriott, BAA Instruments and Imaging Section Director, gives our 9th Annual Webb lecture. Bob looks at a famous Herefordian - George With, Master at Blue Coat School, who adopted the new technology of making silver on glass mirrors in the mid-nineteenth century and gave rise to a great expansion in amateur astronomy.

You can find out more about the BAA and what Bob does as the I&I Director here . If you want to find out why we have an Annual Webb lecture that celebrates the Reverend Webb's contribution to astronomy, there's a great article by Neil English here .

From the Lobster's Eye to Alien Oceans - ESA's JUICE mission to Jupiter

Dr Nigel Bannister is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, where his research interests include planetary science, Ultraviolet and visible wavelength imaging systems, and the development of technologies derived from space instrumentation for the early detection of skin, lung and eye cancers. You can find out more about Nigel here .

His talk looks at the forthcoming ESA mission to Jupiter's moons - JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission . The mission looks to address questions about the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life, and how the Solar System works. He is a Co-Investigator on J-MAG: the magnetometer instrument which will be flown on the JUICE mission, and is responsible for the radiation design of the instrument.

Nigel will talk about the scientific goals for the mission, the design of the spacecraft and instrumentation and some of the engineering challenges of mounting a mission to the largest planet in the solar system.

Researching 19th century astronomy: a case study for Williamina Fleming (1857-1911)

Mina Fleming crossed the Atlantic on her second journey to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1881 April.

Her brief marriage had produced two sons, but the first had died young and the second she had just left behind in Dundee. She would not see him again for 6 long years.

Over the next 30 years she became a leading American astronomer, working for Edward Pickering at the Harvard College Observatory.

She discovered 1 supernova, 9 novae, 2 spectroscopic binaries,, 75 Wolf-Rayet stars, 310 variable stars ... and the Horsehead Nebula.

This talk, by HAS member Paul Haley, will celebrate her achievements and also outline practical ways anyone can begin researching a 19th century astronomer.

The Geology of Mercury - new views of the Sun's innermost planet

Chris Mallibrand, Open University, joint talk with the Woolhope Club (Geology Section).

We were hoping to have Professor David Rothery join us to give this talk, but unfortunately David will be out of the country on Thursday. However, we are delighted to welcome his PhD student, Chris Mallibrand, to give the talk in his place.

Chris has joined Professor Rothery's team at The Open University and is working on the mapping of Mercury in preparation for the ESA BepiColombo mission to Mercury to be launched next year. Professor Rothery is UK Lead Scientist on MIXS (Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer) an instrument to be launched on BepiColombo.

You can read more about Chris at The Open University here and about BepiColombo here .

Comet 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.

"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

Under Southern Skies

Chris Livingstone, Worcester AS.