Amateur Astronomy in Berkshire, UK
Programme
Programme 2014-2015All 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 info |
Introductory Meeting (doors open at 7pm)Fri 12th Sep 7.30pm The first of our season’s AstroBASICS-FRIDAY meetingsFree entry and open to the public: A general introduction to amateur astronomy, our Friday Club meetings will be basic level talks on astronomy suitable for all. |
September 20th 2014VENUS – PARADISE LOSTAndrew Lound (Odyssey Dramatic Presentations) Venus is a world that has been viewed in numerous ways, firstly as an ocean paradise, the planet of love, perhaps even two worlds one in the morning and one in the evening. Now we know it is one world – a hot corrosive world. Andy provides an entertaining history of the planet illustrated by awesome images spanning over 100 years of observation by telescope and space probe. The images and HD Video are accompanied by a very special arrangement of music that envelopes the audience. Who said science isn’t romantic? After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
October 18th 2014Gamma Ray AstronomyBarry Kellett (Rutherford Appleton Lab) This meeting and next month’s deal with two parts of the spectrum important to astronomers. This month the most energetic particles, Gamma Rays, and the efforts to detect them with the little-known Pierre Auger Observatory based in Argentina. A pretty impressive project in terms of size: Barry After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
24th Oct - Friday ClubFree entry and open to the public, this months topic….. Solar Max A beginners talk on all aspects of the sun. No surprise but the sun is rather important to our lives and survival. We are assured that the next billion years or so will not give us a problem, but what then? |
November 15th 2014The Square Kilometre ArrayMatt Jarvis (Oxford University Dept of Physics) After last month’s talk on gamma ray particles at the high end of the frequency spectrum it is now the turn of radio waves. The SKA is the major advance in radio astronomy and will give resolutions rivalling visual telescopes. It would detect an airport radar at many light years distance and its data gathering would need 100 million PCs. After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
28th Nov - Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic….. The technology of the telescope, from the simple astronomical amateur instrument to the major international collaborations the design of the telescope is always a compromise with the laws of physics. Our society member Wayne Young will explain the story. |
December 13th 2014(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. |
19th Dec – Friday ClubThis meeting will be in the Winch Room upstairs so will not be wheelchair accessible. The hidden sky. What lies below the southern horizon and will include a description of our Milky Way environment and how the view of the constellations has been described by past civilizations. As it’s Christmas – extended coffee break and nibbles. I have promised the hall manager that we will look after the carpet |
January 17th 2015Members’ Talks |
23rd Jan – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this months topic….. The Orion Nebula and the birth, growth and eventual fate of star clusters in general. They really do hold the key to understanding the universe. Placeholding text |
February 21st 2015Space RoboticsHilde Schroeven-Deceuninck (Robotic Exploration Development Coordinator at European Space Agency) ESA’s UK centre ECSAT is based at Harwell and Hilde’s talk will be on robotic exploration of space and the earth’s environment. After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
27th Feb – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic (subject change)….. SpectroscopyThe evening starts with a talk about the history and impotance of this subject, including an explanation of how stars came to be described in the weird colour sequence OBAFGKMRNS. The second half will be with John Paraskeva trying a demonstration of practical amateur techniques for getting a spectrum from a star. |
Fri 13th, Sat 14th MarchNational Science Week Observing EveningsLondon Road Campus (NEW LOCATION) For two evenings, Friday and Saturday, we will be doing our astronomical best for the British Science Association. Light polluted but Moon-free Venus will start the evening but Jupiter will be the main attraction.
March 21st 2015Space and atmospheric electricityDr Chris Scott – (Department of Meteorology, University of Reading) With 250,000 volt different between earth’s surface and ionosphere it is no surprise that sparks in the form of lightning jump the gap so often. About 1000 thunderstorms and rain clouds are continuously active around the globe, coupled with the highly variable rain of solar particles, and cosmic rays from beyond the solar system, interacting with earth’s magnetic field makes a fascinating and important area of study. In conjunction with National Science and Technology Week. After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities which might even be images of lightning over Lower Earley. |
27th Mar – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic….. Jupiter by Jove, Brian Skidmore (ReadingAS)The solar system viewed from afar could be described as the Sun and Jupiter, plus a few other bits and bobs. Jupiter will be in our skies until early summer having passed opposition on Feb 6. We have had good opportunities to observe this planet which is a great object for beginners so Brian has been invited to talk about the science and history of this dominant object of the solar system.
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April 18th 2015Astronomical Climate ChangeJames Fradgley (Wessex Astronomical Society) More factors than they tell you about in the press: solar effects, Milankovitch etc. Earth’s 200 million year journey around the centre of the galaxy and a multitude of details in orbital mechanics results in massive climate change over long time scales. After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
24th Apr – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic….. Placeholding text |
May 16th 2015Achievements of UK amateur astronomersGuy Hurst (BAA and Editor: The Astronomer) 11) NEW: July 2013 (Croydon Society) Review of observing achievements and discoveries by amateur astronomers from the Herschel Family to the modern day. After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities. |
22nd May – Friday ClubEntry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic….. Placeholding text |
June 20th 2015Sun-grazing CometsKenelm England (Society for the History of Astronomy) Sungrazer comets were some of the earliest observed comets because they can appear very bright. Some are even considered Great Comets. The close passage of a comet to the sun will brighten the comet not only because the reflection off of the comet nucleus brightens when it is closer to the sun, but the sun also vaporizes a large amount of gas from the comet and the gas reflects more light. Followed by 42nd Annual General Meeting |
No Friday Meeting this month
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| NO MONTHLY MEETINGS IN JULY & AUGUST |
| The venue is St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road, Earley.Parking is available in the hall car park and the adjacent school playground.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. |
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