Main Programme

Programme 2017-2018

All meetings start at 7.00pm in St. Peter’s Church Hall, Earley.
The open FridayCLUB meetings are now included in this listing.

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 that some Friday Meetings are not wheelchair accessible

September 16th 2017

Tswaing Meteor Crater

In the Shadow of the Moon

Mike Frost

I 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 Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Introduction to astronomy

Gerry 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
FAS Annual Convention at the Department of Physics, University of Birmingham.
There is an exciting programme of speakers in preparation.

October 21st 2017

Rosetta Mission

Dr 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 Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

HR Diagram

Rob 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 2017

Astronomical Imaging

Philip Perkin (AstroCruise)

I give talks on astronomical imaging, mainly to astronomical societies in the UK. The current talk is about the techniques I use to acquire astronomical images. It starts with the basics and progresses towards advanced high resolution imaging, with full illustrations at every stage. I am developing a further talk on post-processing of the images – a large and detailed topic with modern CCD cameras.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

24th Nov – Friday Club

Entry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic…..

Telescopes.

Hopefully again this year: Wayne Young (Reading AS)

With the return of the gift-giving season we always discuss telescopes and accessories at the November meeting.

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. Wayne is working on new ways of presenting the subject. Don’t forget: Don’t buy a telescope without a sound knowledge of the compromises you have to make, and I am not even thinking of the rest of the family! 🙂

December 9th 2017

(Nb. 2nd Saturday)

Santa’s Grotto

Members 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 Club

Entry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic…..

The Winter Sky

The 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 2018

Space and Atmospheric Physics

Dr 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.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.
After the coffee break – Members’ Talks and images.

26th Jan – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Regular Friday meeting

Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics.

We are open to suggestions for subjects

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

February 17th 2018

Galaxies 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 the usual announcements and members activities.

23rd Feb – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Regular Friday meeting

Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics.

We are open to suggestions for subjects

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

Saturday (TBN) Feb – Full day meeting

10am to 5pm Lunch to be arranged.

All day meeting and exhibition

Open to the public. Here is an opportunity to showcase the society to other local organisations, schools etc.

Sat (date TBN) March

British Science Week 2018

March 17th 2018

A Window through the Universe

Peter Bull FRAS,

Peter’s presentation A Window Through The Universe is a purely scientific resume of our understanding to date.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

23rd March – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Regular Friday meeting

Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics.

We are open to suggestions for subjects

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

BAA Winchester Weekend. Apr7th -9th 2017

The annual conference attended by many local astronomers.

April 21st 2018

Space Hardware – 2018

Stuart 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.

27th Apr – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Regular Friday meeting

Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics.

We are open to suggestions for subjects

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

May 19th 2018

History of Kew Observatory

Lee Macdonald Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

25th May – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Regular Friday meeting

Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics.

We are open to suggestions for subjects

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

June 16th 2018

AGM Night

Talk TBN

Guest speaker TBN (place holder)

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

Including the Annual General Meeting

EAST READING FESTIVAL Palmer Park

Sunday (TBN) June

Reading Astronomical Society stand.

Exhibition and solar observing.

We will be attending this annual local event with our telescopes suitably filtered for safe observing of sunspots and other activity on our local star.

Images of previous event.

LOCATION MAP

Friday meetings in June/July/August may continue at our regular observing site*.

Summer meetings are arranged for members. All will be indoors with the possibility of talks and refreshments
Sunday 12 August 2018. Perseid meteor peaks tonight. NO MOON!

*The site is on private land, new members please ask for directions and other details.

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,
Chairman, Hampshire Astronomy Group