Home (2024-2025)
Home (2024-2025)
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2024/2025 Archive pages:
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September 2024:
September 2024:
Next - Kindle Centre Meeting - Thursday 5th September 2024
Next - Kindle Centre Meeting - Thursday 5th September 2024
We take a break after July's brilliant talk by Ezzy Pearson on "The Chelyabinsk Meteor" (if you missed it, watch the video here).
There are no meetings in August.
Our next meeting is the kick-off meeting for the 2024/2025 session. For our first talk we'll meet back at the Kindle Centre - a great chance for members new and old to get together again.
For our first talk, we are delighted to welcome Dr Jane Clark. Jane is a retired engineering physicist now concentrating on her main interests of astronomy and learning languages. She is an amateur astronomer and member of Cardiff Astronomy Society where she is their observatory manager. She has given talks to astronomy societies, is the author of three books on the Solar System and has written articles for the BBC Sky at Night magazine. She specialises in photographing galaxies and studies the dynamics of interactions between galaxies.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 5th September 2024
7 pm - Kindle Centre
Webb Anniversary talk - Tycho Brahe
Dr Jane Clark CSci CEng CPhys FInstP FRAS
Local News - Chris Millington on BBC Hereford & Worcester!
Local News - Chris Millington on BBC Hereford & Worcester!
Just in case you weren't glued to your radio listening to BBC H&W the morning after the last Full Moon ... Chris was interviewed by Tammy Gooding who wanted to know all about the Blue Super Moon!
Tammy_Gooding_-_Did_you_see_the_blue_super_moon_last_night_2024-08-20.mp3Visit - Jodrell Bank - June 2024:
Visit - Jodrell Bank - June 2024:
HAS members and partners went on an overnight visit to see Jodrell bank in June. We also visited the National Trust site at Little Moreton Hall, a fabulous Tudor house and gardens on the way to the overnight hotel in Congleton
The beautiful weather continued for the visit to Jodrell, which has a number of immersive video shows on the history of the site as well as explaining that we are all made of stars 🙂
Wandering around the site to see the main radio telescope, a truly impressive piece of engineering, still in active use and part of e-Merlin linked telescopes, now stretching around the world.
Smiles all round with the HAS party and a wonderful mini-escape.
Now watch this space for possible future events 😉
Keith
Members Discussion Group
Members Discussion Group
We've set up an online community for HAS members where you can raise questions, share your experience and suggest topics for talks or visits. We've created a discussion group on the Groups.io platform. This is a "fremium" based platform and promotes itself as "We don't run advertising and your data is never submitted to any ad tracking networks.". There are a lot of other astronomy and expert groups using this platform - it looks like a safe place to be online.
We've set the permissions for the group to be listed publicly but content is private - only HAS members can see what you post. We are moderating new members joining the group to manage spam bots and spurious content. This means new member requests have to be approved by an Admin before being admitted to the group.
Once admitted you can follow discussions and post entries. It's an email based platform by default - you'll receive new posts by email from other members. However, if you don't want individual emails you can go online and change your "Subscription" to turn off emails and receive digests etc.
Have fun!
Observing Highlights
Observing Highlights
Observing highlights for this month:
Links for weather and observing forecasts:
FAS News
Look out for emails from Keith with the regular FAS Newsletter and news and information about other events and talks that you may be interested in attending at FAS and other Astronomical Societies
Member's Photos
Member's Photos
Taken any astronomy photos over the last few months? Share them here with HAS members!
Take a look at what HAS members have managed to do over the years on our Images page (here).
Francis has sent in a stunning image focusing on the Squid Nebula sitting inside the Flying Bat Nebula. This is a tough imaging target - one of Francis's longest imaging runs requiring 14.25 hours of scope time. With his dual imaging rig, this "only" took 7 hours of his time to capture the data. One scope captured Ha and OIII narrowband data, the other scope captured SII and OIII narrowband data.
The image is built up from 171 sub frames of 5 minutes each. These are all processed and stacked using PixInsight software. To make the Squid really stand out, Francis created a mask the same shape as the squid to allow him to hold back or enhance the processing of the squid and it's background. Francis's processing workflow has him removing the stars from the stacked image early on so that he can get the nebulosity looking good, then adding the stars back in at the end to produce the final image. Fabulous! We've shown both the final image and the starless version below:
The Flying Bat Nebula (Sh2-129) and Squid Nebula (Ou4)
The Flying Bat Nebula (Sh2-129) and Squid Nebula (Ou4)
The Squid is a fairly recent discovery by French amateur astronomer Nicolas Outters in 2011. The blue emission is from doubly ionised Oxygen atoms the red is from Hydrogen. Sh2-129 is about 1,300 light years away with Ou4 sitting behind some 2,300 light years away. They are located within the Cepheus region.
Keith has been out under the stars again and was lucky enough to have clear skies to view the wonderful Auroral displays in August. He's also been under Francis's tutelage to learn how to enhance a nebula image using PixInsight - dramatic improvement in clarity of the nebula. Lastly, Keith has captured the Tulip nebula SH2-101 in Cygnus:
NGC6888
NGC6888
Crescent Nebula is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus.
Keith has used PixInsight to process his original image (left) to significantly reduce the intensity of the stars and so reveal far more detail of the nebula itself (right).
SH2-101 Tulip Nebula
SH2-101 Tulip Nebula
Sharpless 101 (Sh 2-101) is a H II region emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It was catalogued by astronomer Stewart Sharpless in his 1959 catalogue of nebulae. (Wikipedia)
Francis has been busy again and looking forward to longer and darker nights. He's sent us two images taken earlier in July using a dual mount rig. Francis has two Askar 120 APO refractors with 0.8x reducers giving 672mm focal length and f5.6 focal ratio. To capture the nebulosity Francis has used a dual Ha/OIII 6nm narrow band filter. Francis took 22x 120s subs (44 mins) for the Veil nebula and 26x 120s subs (52 mins) for the North American nebula:
Veil Nebula near and including NGC6960
Veil Nebula near and including NGC6960
The Veil Nebula is a cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus.
It constitutes the visible portions of the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant, many portions of which have acquired their own individual names and catalogue identifiers like NGC6960. (Wikipedia)
North American Nebula NGC7000
North American Nebula NGC7000
The North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is a large emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb. It is named because its shape resembles North America. (Wikipedia)
In this image, you can see how the nebula gets its name - Mexico and Central America at the bottom, Gulf of Mexico to the right and a rather stubby Miami to the right!
Meetings:
Meetings:
With meetings now allowed indoors, we are delighted to be able to have a mix of virtual Zoom talks and talks back at the Kindle Centre. Our next meeting is:
Thursday 5th September 2024
7 pm - Kindle Centre
Webb Anniversary talk - Tycho Brahe
Dr Jane Clark CSci CEng CPhys FInstP FRAS
Many of our speakers at the Virtual Talks have allowed us to record and share their talks for society members to view if they missed the meeting. We've started a HAS YouTube channel here where you can visit or subscribe to and watch these talks.
To watch recordings of previous talks, they are on the "Recordings" page here.
Our last meeting was a talk given by Ezzy Pearson. Ezzy allowed us to record the talk and you'll find it here:
Thursday 4th July 2024
Thursday 4th July 2024
A talk given by Ezzie Pearson to Herefordshire Astronomical Society on the 4th July 2024.
Ezzy is a space journalist for BBC Sky at Night Magazine, for which she has written dozens of articles on all aspects of space science, exploration and history. Prior to her journalistic career, she did a PhD in Astrophysics at Cardiff University. She regularly speaks at astronomy societies, conventions and other science events, and in the last five years has made over 100 international, national and regional media appearances on TV and radio as an expert on all manner of space and astronomy stories. In 2013 she presented a documentary for Channel 4 on the Chelyabinsk meteor strike.
Ezzy tells us all about the Chelyabinsk Meteor - a story which inspired her to move full time into space journalism!
Observing Session:
Observing Session:
As always, look out for emails from Chris giving proposed date and details and look out for any last minute alterations. We will endeavour to stick to these dates unless weather means 'sliding' it, in which case it will likely be a few days earlier or later and members will of course be advised. Each date is centred on the first Thursday after Third Quarter.
If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Remember that there are some great online observing guides - a good one is run by Telescope House. Look out for the monthly night sky emails from Chris.
TBA October 2024
6:30 - 9 pm
Visit:
Visit:
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, the Norman Lockyer Observatory outside Sidmouth, the Herschel Museum in Bath and the Hanwell Community Observatory just outside Banbury.
At our September meeting, Keith described the potential sites we could visit and took a poll of those present. Based on your feedback we've now had a fab trip to visit to the Spaceguard Centre in Knighton and Keith is now looking to organise a longer visit to Jodrell Bank in 2024 with an overnight stay to make the travel easier.
Look out for emails from Keith explaining more about the proposed visits and asking members to register for the trips.
TBC
Where would you like to go?
More information here.
Members pay for shared transport and any entrance fees as appropriate..
Star Party:
Star Party:
We hope to hold Star Parties again this session - Covid-19 allowing. Maybe we'll be able to run one at the Madley Environmental Study Centre (MESC) again.
MESC is right next door to the Madley Satellite Earth Station - a well known Herefordshire landmark. There are some location maps and directions to the MESC web site here.
TBC
Star Party with MESC
More information here.
October 2024:
October 2024:
Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 3rd October 2024
Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 3rd October 2024
After our excellent season kick-off meeting with Dr Jane Clark, we are delighted to welcome back Dr Steve Barrett to give our October talk .
Many of you will recall that Steve has previously given two very entertaining and informative talks to the society: "The Great Moon Hoax" and "The End of Everything". If you missed either of these, Steve kindly gave us permission to record the talks and you can go back to watch the recordings on our "Recordings" page here.
For our October talk, Steve has gone all the way from the end of time to the beginning of time to tell us about "The Beginning of Everything".
Dr Steve Barrett is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool. His research interests span all aspects of imaging, image processing and image analysis. This includes medical imaging (biophysics), scanning probe microscopy of atoms, molecules and surfaces (nanophysics), microscopy of earth materials (geophysics) and astrophotography.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 3rd October 2024
7 pm - Virtual Talk
The Beginning of Everything
Dr Steve Barrett (University of Liverpool)
Local News - Chris Millington on BBC Hereford & Worcester!
Local News - Chris Millington on BBC Hereford & Worcester!
Just in case you weren't glued to your radio listening to BBC H&W the morning after the August Full Moon ... Chris was interviewed by Tammy Gooding who wanted to know all about the Blue Super Moon!
Tammy_Gooding_-_Did_you_see_the_blue_super_moon_last_night_2024-08-20.mp3- Next Activity - Observing Session - Thursday 24th October 2024 - CANCELLED
We have our first observing session in October - just before the clocks go back. We will meet at our Lugg Meadows site - more information about our site and location here.
As always, look out for emails from Mark and Chris giving details and any last minute alterations. We will endeavour to stick to these dates unless weather means 'sliding' it, in which case it will likely be a few days earlier or later and members will of course be advised. Each date is centred on the first Thursday after Third Quarter.
If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Mark and Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Latest update from Chris:
Well it seems we have started the new season like we ended the last. But we have (at least) 5 more opportunities to get together, so don't be dispirited.
On a general note (further to my last email about how the observing sessions work and are 'called'), I realise that we have recently just had a couple of good nights of clear skies.
But generally I try not to bring forward a date once it's in the diary (Martin has put up all the provisional observing night dates on the HAS website). People have their own plans and I find deferring (if possible) far less disruptive than bringing forward.
Unfortunately I can't really see a good night in the near future either.
It is a difficult game with the Moon giving us 7-10 days max (when it rises after or sets before our session so as not to be a problem) AND a good forecast needed for everything to come together. Some people have a lot of kit to drag along and it's really not worth the commitment and effort if the weather is really 'iffy'.
Hope you all understand.
24th October 2024
6:30 - 9 pm
November 2024:
November 2024:
Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 7th November 2024
Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 7th November 2024
A talk given by Dr James Lees to Herefordshire Astronomical Society on the 7th November 2024.
James is an Associate Lecturer at the University of York in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology. He has had a varied academic career at York and Stanford variously studying astrophysics, nuclear, condensed matter, biophysics, and data storage. He is also an avid science communicator working to help make science understandable to everyone through his talks, workshops, and books.
For our November talk, James takes us from Science-Fiction to Science-Fact. He explores the very limits of what planets can be. From Tatooine to Super Earths, and from the strangest of exoplanets to the final place you could ever live. The real, the imaginary and the possible. How they work (or not) and what they might be like to visit.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 7th November 2024
7 pm - Virtual Talk
All These Worlds (Exoplanets)
Dr James Lees (University of York)
- Next Activity - Observing Session - Thursday 28th November 2024 - CANCELLED
Sadly our first observing session in October was cancelled due to the weather. Our next session is due on 28th November, but have to say Storm Bert isn't helping. We will meet at our Lugg Meadows site - more information about our site and location here.
As always, look out for emails from Mark and Chris giving details and any last minute alterations. We will endeavour to stick to these dates unless weather means 'sliding' it, in which case it will likely be a few days earlier or later and members will of course be advised. Each date is centred on the first Thursday after Third Quarter.
Latest update from Chris:
OBSERVING CANCELLED
I took a look at the Lugg meadows track/ causeway and whilst there were a few watery potholes, the surface was generally useable (unlike the still flooded fields either side). So far so good.
The weather is however decidedly iffy and whilst I would wait another 24 hours for a more certain forecast, the response to my email has been insufficient to make it worthwhile going ahead.
My thanks to those who did respond, but the evening is not viable and is therefore CANCELLED
If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Mark and Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 28th November 2024
6:30 - 9 pm
December 2024:
December 2024:
Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 5th December 2024
Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 5th December 2024
We are delighted to welcome Owen Brazell back to HAS to give us his talk on Observing Globular Clusters.
Owen is President, Director of the Galaxies Section, Joint Meetings Organiser and DSO Editor for The Webb Society. He has previously been the Assistant Director of the British Astronomical Association's Deep Sky Section and is a columnist for Astronomy Now.
When observing, his primary interests are in the observation of planetary and diffuse nebulae - although since the acquisition of a 51cm telescope this has also moved to viewing galaxy clusters.
His interest in astronomy was sparked by an attempt to see a comet from his native Toronto. From early years, he kept up his interest in astronomy which culminated in a degree in astronomy from St Andrews University in Scotland and taking though not completing an MSc in Astrophysics. At that time, he also gained an interest in the northern lights. As with many astronomers, finding no living there, he moved into the oil business first in R&D and then as a computer systems designer (this explains his interest in the computer side of astronomy). Despite this he still uses Dobsonian type telescopes ranging from a 4" Genesis-sdf through a 21". The recent plethora of fuzzy objects that move has re-awakened an interest in comets!
His searches for dark skies have taken him from the mountains of Canada through Texas to the Florida Keys as well as to Wales - the only good dark sky site he has found so far in the UK.
Have a look around The Webb Society website here and there's information about the Deep-Sky Observer (DSO) quarterly magazine here.
BTW, we have a particular soft spot for the Reverend Thomas William Webb here in Herefordshire. The Reverend Webb was born in Ross-on-Wye, educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, ordained and later assigned to the parish of Hardwicke, Hereford. Here he wrote his classic astronomical observing guide "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes" published in 1859 for which he is best known today. He is buried in the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Whitecross Road.
Some HAS members may even remember a talk given on 6th November 2008 (the 1st Annual Webb lecture!) where Janet and Mark Robinson described the life of the Revd Webb taken from their book (with a foreword by Sir Patrick Moore) called 'The Stargazer of Hardwicke'.
More recently, in February 2020, the society went on a visit to Hanwell Community Observatory and Oxford's History of Science Museum. Here Dr Lee Macdonald showed us an original first edition of the Revd Webb's book "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes". We have some photos of the trip here - scroll down on the link to have a look at us inspecting the book!
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 5th December 2024
7 pm - Virtual Talk
Observing Globular Clusters
Owen Brazell (The Webb Society, BAA)
January 2025:
January 2025:
Next Meeting at the Kindle Centre - Thursday 9th January 2025
Next Meeting at the Kindle Centre - Thursday 9th January 2025
Season's greetings and wishing you a Happy New Year!
Our next meeting will be at The Kindle Centre on Thursday 9th January 2025.
This will be our AGM followed by Keith talking about how he got back into astronomy and astrophotography.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 9th January 2025
7 pm - Kindle Centre
AGM and members' chat
- Next Activity - Observing Session - CANCELLED TBD January2025
We have our next observing session towards the end of January. We will meet at our Lugg Meadows site - more information about our site and location here.
As always, look out for emails from Mark and Chris giving details and any last minute alterations. We will endeavour to stick to these dates unless weather means 'sliding' it, in which case it will likely be a few days earlier or later and members will of course be advised. Each date is centred on the first Thursday after Third Quarter.
Latest update!
If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Mark and Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday TBC January2025
6:30 - 9 pm
February 2025:
February 2025:
- Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 6th February 2025
We are delighted to welcome Dr Peter Allan to HAS to give us his talk on The James Webb Telescope.
Peter first got interested in astronomy at the age of ten. He built his own telescope using two lens and a cardboard tube. With hindsight, this was the perfect first telescope for him - it was good enough to see things that were not visible with the naked eye, and bad enough to know that he wanted something better!
He obtained a B.Sc. in Physics and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Manchester University. He spent the next four years doing research at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, and at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. In subsequent years he used telescopes in Hawaii, La Palma (Canary Islands), South Africa, and a little closer to home, the MERLIN radio telescope array that is run from Jodrell Bank.
In 1990, he moved to the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, and he's been there ever since. The space science department there (RAL Space) does a lot more than just astronomy and he took the opportunity to get involved in Earth Observation, data processing systems, and international standards for Space Data Systems.
Peter joins us to talk about The James Webb Telescope - the largest telescope ever launched into space. The results from this telescope are already spectacular. His talk covers what we have learned so far, and what else we hope to discover.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 6th February 2025
7 pm - Virtual Talk
The James Webb Space Telescope
Dr Peter Allan
- Next Activity - Observing Session - Thursday 27th February
Our next activity is the monthly observing session to be held towards the end of February. We will meet at our Lugg Meadows site - more information about our site and location here.
As always, look out for emails from Mark and Chris giving details and any last minute alterations. We will endeavour to stick to these dates unless weather means 'sliding' it, in which case it will likely be a few days earlier or later and members will of course be advised. Each date is centred on the first Thursday after Third Quarter.
If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Mark and Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 27th February2025
6:30 - 9 pm
- Observing Session - Thursday 27th February
At last, we had our first successful Observing Session since November 2022!
A very good turn out of members eager to be guided around the night sky and to view some of those treasures through a variety of scopes and binoculars. It was also an excellent chance to view the "planetary parade," featuring all seven planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune [OK, eight if you include looking at Earth?].
Saturn was the first of the planets to look for as it was first to set after the sun. Sadly, it was a very faint target and only visible in twilight and, as Chris predicted, it proved impossible for us to see on the night. Saturn was followed by Mercury which early observers were able to spot before it too sank first into some low clouds and then below the horizon. Neptune was next which, as the faintest and most distant planet would be a telescope target, but was way beyond the nous of our band of amateur astronomers to spot.
Venus was next on parade - sailing bright in the twilight then night sky. However, she proved to be a jaw dropping sight through the larger scopes - not a bright round disk, but a tiny sliver of silver in a crescent (15.8% phase).
Next in the parade was Uranus, the second most distant and faint planet, it suffered the same fate as Neptune.
However, we then alighted on mighty Jupiter - glorious views of the great gas giant with two thick bands and all four Galilean moons visible against the inky black of the night sky.
Last in the parade was Mars, a red disk against the black of the night sky. The seeing at our observing sight was deteriorating so just a red disk on the night with no hint of maria or ice caps.
So we observed four of the night's planetary parade. But that was not all, with lovely views of Orion's nebulae, open star clusters and Chris's laser pointer guiding us across the star studded night sky.
As well as the scopes and binoculars members had brought, Francis had set up his portable tracking mount with a colour camera on the end of a Samyang f2 135mm lens. This combination gives a really wide view of the night sky. With some nifty software, Francis was accumulating live images of beautiful nebulae. Here's what he captured on the night:
March 2025:
March 2025:
- Next Talk - Virtual Meeting - Thursday 6th March 2025
For our next meeting, we are delighted to welcome Professor Colin Steele to give us his talk "Coronal Conundra and Prominence Puzzles".
Colin studied Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics at St Andrews and went on to do his PhD in Applied Mathematics looking at "Dynamics of Solar Prominences". He has been teaching Mathematics across the University of Manchester since 1993. The Apollo Moon landings were part of what inspired his interest in astronomy - buying his first telescope in 1972 and joining his local Dundee AS.
He's clearly been fascinated by the Sun and other stars for many years. Whilst the 'main business' of a star, i.e. the production of energy, takes place in the core, there are many interesting processes taking place in the outer layers and atmospheres. The Sun has three layers of atmosphere known as the photosphere, chromosphere and corona. Colin's talk gives us a general introduction to the Sun and then features some of the phenomena in the atmospheres including the appearance of the corona at eclipses, sunspots, prominences, coronal loops and solar flares. He'll also tell us how the Sun influences events here in the Earth's atmosphere.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 6th March 2025
7 pm - Virtual Talk
Coronal Conundra and Prominence Puzzles
Professor Colin Steele (University of Manchester)
- Next Activity - Observing Session - Thursday 27th March - CANCELLED
Our next activity is the monthly observing session to be held towards the end of March. After our successful observation session in February (the first for two years), let's hope we have another clear night on the 27th. Have a look below at some of what we were looking at in February.
We will meet at our Lugg Meadows site - more information about our site and location here.
As always, look out for emails from Mark and Chris giving details and any last minute alterations. We will endeavour to stick to these dates unless weather means 'sliding' it, in which case it will likely be a few days earlier or later and members will of course be advised. Each date is centred on the first Thursday after Third Quarter.
Latest update from Chris:
Early evening (unfortunately) looks clear - but Sunset isn't till 18.36 and astronomical twilight only begins at 19.49, by which time I'm afraid there will be patchy clouds, becoming progressively thicker.
We might get lucky, with a few clear intervals, but on balance I'm taking the pessimistic view (as I always do with our weather) and saying it's a no go.
I don't want to drag people out and have them lug (no pun intended) their kit to the site only to get snatches of the sky. So it's OFF I'm afraid.
If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Mark and Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 27th March 2025
6:30 - 9 pm
Lugg Meadows
Practical observing and advice session
CANCELLED
- Partial Solar Eclipse - Observing Session - Saturday 29th March
We have two observing activities in the space of a couple of days in March. There will be a Partial Solar Eclipse on Saturday 29th March. The eclipse has first contact at 10:04 and finishes just after midday.
There will be plenty of people with various gadgets for SAFE observing (filters, H Alpha scope, Herschel wedges and mylar viewing glasses etc).
With solar observing, even if it's partly cloudy we'll still be able to observe the partial eclipse - only total thick cover will spoil the view.
We have been given permission to meet on private property, for details of where we are meeting and instructions on how to get there and where to park, please contact Mark and Chris - contact details here.
Saturday 29th March 2025
09:30 am - 12:00 pm
Partial Solar Eclipse
There will be a Partial Solar Eclipse in March. Look out for information and emails about a HAS observing session to safely view the partial eclipse. A good website to look at eclipse info is here.
April 2025:
April 2025:
- Next Talk - Kindle Centre - Thursday 3rd April 2025
We are delighted to welcome back Dr Steve Barrett to give us his talk "It's Not Rocket Science". This talk will be held at the Kindle Centre in Hereford.
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 3rd April 2025
7 pm - Kindle Centre
It's Not Rocket Science
Dr Steve Barrett (University of Liverpool)
May 2025:
May 2025:
- Next Talk - Kindle Centre - Thursday 1st May 2025
We are delighted to announce HAS member Dr Steve Foulkes will give us his talk "Cataclysmic Variables". This talk will be held at the Kindle Centre in Hereford.
Those with very long memories may recall that this is the second time that Steve has given a talk to HAS. He gave a talk on searching for supernovae in our very first year of existence 2008 - so it's about time we invited him to give us another!
As always, look out for emails from Chris with details of what HAS is doing next. If you are not on our emailing list, please contact Chris for the latest news - contact details here.
Thursday 1st May 2025
7 pm - Kindle Centre
Cataclysmic Variables
Dr Steve Foulkes (HAS)
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