Amateur Astronomy in Berkshire, UK
Main Programme
Programme 2017-2018All meetings start at 7.00pm in St. Peter’s Church Hall, Earley. If you are a speaker who would like to talk to the society or have a recommendation for a speaker or subject please email [email protected] please note Meetings are wheelchair accessible unless mentioned otherwise
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September 16th 2017 Tswaing Meteor Crater In the Shadow of the MoonMike FrostI am an eclipse interceptor. Some people call us eclipse “chasers”, but as the Moon’s shadow moves faster than we can; the best we can do is put ourselves in the way of the Moon’s shadow and hope that the weather co-operates. A total eclipse of the Sun is arguably the most spectacular of all natural phenomena. I place it in the same league as rainbows and sunsets – and if there was just one sunset a year, only visible from somewhere obscure, wouldn’t you want to travel to see it? This talk is a personal introduction to the physics, history and sociology of eclipse chasing, illustrated from my own travels around the world and my researches into historical eclipses.
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
22nd Sep – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm Introduction to astronomyGerry and others This meeting is designed for the time of year when prospective new members are thinking of a new hobby or expanding a old interest. We will take you through all the factors that we obsess about. Mentioning the science and history along the way. All in just one hour? Let’s give it a go! After the break…. Members’ activities and talks If you went to the USA last month for the total eclipse, here’s your chance to tell us about it.
REMINDER: 30th September 2017 |
October 21st 2017Rosetta MissionDr Colin Snodgrass (Open University)Colin’s work includes spacecraft-based exploration of our solar system. He coordinated the world-wide ground-based observation campaign that supported the Rosetta mission, and was previously part of the Rosetta/OSIRIS camera team. After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
27th Oct – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm HR DiagramRob Peeling A scatter chart is a basic tool of statistaics. See the massive progress when you apply one to stars.
After the break…. Members’ activities and talks |
November 18th 2017Astronomical ImagingPhilip Perkins (AstroCruise)
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24th Nov – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic….. Telescopes.
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December 9th 2017(Nb. 2nd Saturday) Santa’s GrottoMembers practical stuff A telescope is for life not just for Christmas. Come and complain about not getting what you wanted for Christmas and drool over what the others are getting. Tea and cakes provided, no cash machine again this year. Followed by RAS “Christmas Special” including glass of Vin d’Asda compliments of the committee. |
29th Dec – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic….. The Winter SkyThe view in the next few weeks is dominated by Orion and Taurus. We will look at the objects in this most interesting region. Free mince pie for the early arrivals!! |
January 20th 2018Space and Atmospheric PhysicsDr Adam Masters Faculty of Natural Sciences, Dpt. of Physics, Imperial Coll. Dr. Masters has investigated how the solar wind interacts with Saturn’s magnetosphere, properties and structure of Saturn’s magnetosphere near the equator and similar studies with the other outer planets. (Adam’s talk was actually on history and results fron Cassini-Huygens probes with mention of Saturn’s mag. field disturbance by Enceladus) After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
26th Jan – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm The Winter SkyRob Peeling (ex Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society) The period of winter running into spring has the northern sky at its best. Rob’s expertise preparing observing lists for public star parties underpins his talk on this month’s objects. After the break…. Members’ activities and talks Diary Date: Fri 9th, Sat 10th Feb. |
February 17th 2018Galaxies at a distance.Nancy Hine (PhD student, University of Hertfordshire)A talk on galaxies in general, and Nancy’s studies in spectroscopy of very distant – and therefore very young – galaxies. Nancy will be known to many as a regular attender at our meetings not so long ago. After the coffee break – Members’ Talks and images, what’s in the sky, news. INCLUDING: “I was at the Royal Astronomical Society yesterday looking through the archives and found something really important that has been lost for many years. No more clues or it’ll spoil the surprise”. Rob Peeling,
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23rd Feb – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm The Earth’s PlanetsWe’ll try to put ‘system’ into the solar system. The important moments in its history as humans got better understanding of how it all works, or not! After the break…. Members’ activities and talks |
Saturday 24th Feb – Full day meeting
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Sat 10th March for one weekBritish Science Week 2018Support the BSA and their local events. |
March 17th 2018A Window through the Universe (Replaced due to weather warnings)
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23rd March – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm Regular Friday meetingRobert Adamson Foundations of Astronomy using computer demonstrations we go through basic features of the motions and physics of our subject. After the break…. Members’ activities and talks |
BAA Winchester Weekend. Apr7th -9th 2017The annual conference attended by many local astronomers. |
April 21st 2018Space Hardware – 2018Stuart Eves Lead Mission Concepts Engineer at SSTL Stuart has been our guest speaker a few years ago and a few of our members were invited on a works’ visit to Surrey Satellites. With the advent of Space-X reusable rockets and other new techniques the time has come to get the latest from this entertaining and prolific speaker After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. Special Note: earlier in the day our member Kenelm England will be talking on Berkshire Astronomers: 5000BC to 2018AD at Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge. |
27th Apr – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm Regular Friday meetingTalk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics. We are open to suggestions for subjects After the break…. Members’ activities and talks |
May 19th 2018History of Kew ObservatoryLee Macdonald Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford From King George III’s private observatory to the origins of the National Physical Laboratory, Lee Macdonald reveals new research on the remarkable story of Kew Observatory.
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
25th May – Friday ClubDoors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm Regular Friday meetingTalk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics. We are open to suggestions for subjects After the break…. Members’ activities and talks |
June 16th 2018AGM NightIncluding the Annual General Meeting.Have your say in running the society. Stand for election for posts. Lively discussion. Definitely not boring! Followed by a talk from our history manAstronomical CentenariesKenelm England
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EAST READING FESTIVAL Palmer Park
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Friday meetings in June/July/August may be notified later.
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| NO MAIN MEETINGS IN JULY & AUGUST |
| The venue is St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road, Earley.
Parking is available in the hall car park. Typical meeting timings are…. 7.00 – 8.30pm :: Announcements and speaker as detailed above. 8.30 – 9.00pm :: Refreshments and an opportunity to chat and browse the library. 9.00 – 9.45pm :: Miscellany of topics by members. Programme 2018-19 Sept 2018 Guest speaker, Graham Bryant, |
