Amateur Astronomy in Berkshire, UK
gbond
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Home page: http://www.ryhill.net/
Posts by gbond
Welsh Farm – April 2012
0John T writes,
Friday night was clouded out. Overnight and Saturday morning it rained and sleeted! But it cleared early evening and by the end of dusk around 10pm it cleared. We had absolutely cloudless skies then until we got too cold or tired. Lane End were observing until sunrise-twilight!!!
We raised a toast to Chris for organising the weekend although he couldn’t be there. Good weekend had by all!!
Martin B writes,
Friday night we did manage to get a decent look at Mars in a short gap but that was all.
Saturday some of us lasted until dawn interfered shortly before 5 am .
Sunday night started good and we observed until just after midnight when cloud came in , but as we had an early start next day , I was planning to give up round midnight anyway . The transparency was good but seeing was not (on Sunday – the Mars view was probably better on Friday than Sunday) . Best weekend yet .
I saw about 50 Messier objects on Saturday and decided to have a go at a few NGC and Caldwell ones on the Sunday . The sky was brighter low down on Sunday though .
We could appreciate the movement of comet Garradd between Saturday and Sunday.
Well fed and ready for a night out. Reading AS’s Welsh group.
Jochta’s Image at Santa’s Grotto
0
Reading AS's social evening.
The scene at our Christmas social on 10th December.
Communicating Astronomy (Malcolm’s Notes)
0A number of our regular helpers at public events and astroBASICS sessions attended Newbury AS’s seminar on communicating astronomy (22 Oct). Malcolm Brown made a few notes. Thanks are due to all at Newbury AS for arranging this event for their 30th Year Celebration. Teachers and general public alike can follow the links to great resources.
Jupiter Star Party
0When: Friday 18th November. 19.30 ’til 21.00 or later if clear.
What: Jupiter Star Party.
Where: Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre. map
Newbury Amateur Astronomical Society are present at an evening of science devoted to the planet Jupiter
The Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre is a great venue beside a the lake and if clear the NAAS will appreciate the help of our society’s usual public star party enthusiasts. If you are just an astronomy addict or need somewhere to take the kids you are welcome as a guest of course.
More info from gerry
bond
readingastroorguk
Autumn 2011 sessions with BSA and Newbury AAS
0The British Science Association will be organizing a small exhibition at the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre. This will accompany an observing session at the park and provide an activity if cloudy. The dates and details will be confirmed here soon. Telescopes provided by Reading will be welcome. The evening will be dedicated to all aspects of the planet Jupiter.
Thanks are due to the Newbury Amateur Astronomical Society as the organizers.
Asteroid (229255) Andrewelliott
0Andrew lived in Lower Earley and was a member of the society for some years before his retirement to the banks of the Ribble in Lancashire. Following on from this we have been invited to send a party of Andrew’s old friends to the Aug 3rd meeting of Blackpool and District Astronomical Society.
— On Fri, 20/5/11, BAA electronic bulletins service <baa-ebulletinbritastroorg> wrote:
From: BAA electronic bulletins service <baa-ebulletinbritastroorg>
Subject: [BAA-ebulletin 00581] Asteroid (229255) Andrewelliott
To: “BAA e-bulletin list” <baa-ebulletinbritastroorg>
Date: Friday, 20 May, 2011, 0:39
======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletin
======================================================================
I am very pleased to announce that an asteroid, discovered by Peter
Birtwhistle in 2005, has now been named in posthumous recognition of Andrew
Elliott’s contributions to amateur astronomy.
The citation, published in the Minor Planet Circular MPC 75105 on May 17,
reads as follows:
(229255) Andrewelliott = 2005 AJ
Discovered 2005 Jan. 4 by P. Birtwhistle at Great Shefford.
Andrew John Elliott (1946-2010) was a British observer who pioneered the
use of low-light devices, precision timing and video methods in observing
short-lived phenomena. Assistant director for occultations of the British
Astronomical Association Lunar and Asteroids Sections, he lectured widely
in the UK and Europe.
Andrew sadly passed away on 2010 November 28. The announcement nicely
coincides with the publication in the next few days of the June issue of the
Journal of the British Astronomical Association where you can read Andrew’s
obituary on pages 176-178.
Rest in peace dear friend.
Richard Miles
Director, Asteroids and Remote Planets Section
arps [at] britastro.org
2011 May 19
The Dinton Pastures Era
0The Dinton Pastures Era appears to be over: Welcome to St Peter’s Church Hall for the BASICS section future development.
The final evening’s BASICS session at Dinton Pastures was well attended. No more are planned at that location and we wait to see if the local authority want to invite us for official events in the future.
Brian’s Bounce – otherwise known as the Brian Cox Effect – is still in full swing as we had 33 attenders tonight and a small forest of hands declared attending for the first time. It will be interesting to see how meeting at St Peter’s hall changes things. It should be better on cold winter’s nights and much more accessible. So it is a good moment to thank our helpers and the members who attend to chat with the guests after the talk. This is very important and often solves technical problems or just breaks the ice socially and encourages joining the society.
We must also thank Dinton Pastures’ staff for the past 20 years of events of one sort or another. The park is still available to the public and amateur astronomy in its simplest form is just somewhere to stand and something to look at. In fact it must be the only activity which could be engaged in by half the entire population of the world simultaneously without causing traffic jams or a run on the banks 
Clear skies!
Gerry, Peter, Malcolm, Alun et al.
Observing with Newbury AAS in Wilcot
0The weather precluded the possibility of observing 25/26th March 2011 but our thanks go to our friends at Newbury for the organization. Nothing is currently planned.
Here is info on the site for future reference.
1. The 5-day local weather.
2. Camping is possible at the Golden Swan .
Thanks are due to the Newbury Astronomical Society as the organizers.
Map for Wilcot Village Hall. The Golden Swan is further south on same street.