Main Programme 2011/12

Main Section

All meetings start at 7.00pm in St. Peter’s Church Hall, Earley.
The AstroBASICS programme is also available.

Programme 2011-2012

If you are a speaker who would like to talk to the society or have a recommendation for a speaker or subject please email inforeadingastroorguk  (inforeadingastroorguk)  .

September 17th 2011

Space Weather

Prof. Mike Hapgood (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

Solar flares and the prophets of doom: what is the real threat from Space Weather? This talk will cut through the nonsense about solar flares that gets so much media attention – and explore the fascinating science that reveals a real threat to our technological civilisation.

October 15th 2011

Hunting for Meteorites in Antarctica and Australia

Dr. Gretchen Benedix (Natural History Museum)

Meteorites offer a glimpse into the early history of the solar system. Find out what we learn from them and where the best places are to find them on Earth.

November 18th 2011

Jupiter Star Party

Go to our events page for details of Newbury’s Jupiter Evening in Thatcham.

November 19th 2011

Mercury

Andrew Lound (The Planetary Society)

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and due to the difficulty of observing it, it has been neglected over the years. Yet this planet has helped change our view on the motions of the planets, nearly ruin the career of a famous astronomer and perhaps may hold the key to planetary formation. The whole history of the observation of Mercury is examined right up to the very latest images from Messenger spacecraft. Illustrated with remarkable images this presentation will forever change the way to think of Mercury.

December 10th 2011

(Nb. 2nd Saturday)

Santa’s Grotto

Do you need an excuse like Christmas? Bring and show your hardware, but no sticky fingers on the lenses please! Or just come and see Alun’s latest toys.

Followed by RAS “Christmas Special”

January 21st 2012

The View From Saturn: Images from the Cassini Spacecraft

Prof. Carl Murray (Queen Mary University of London)

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is the largest ever sent to the outer solar system and it comprises the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe. In January 2005 the released Huygens probe descended through the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, and landed on its surface. The Cassini spacecraft has continued in orbit transmitting data back to Earth about Saturn, its moons and rings. Carl Murray, Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Queen Mary, University of London, was selected as a member of the Imaging Team on Cassini in 1990.

Carl is the only UK member of the team and has a particular interest in Saturn’s rings and their gravitational interaction with small moons orbiting in the Saturn system. In the talk he will discuss the Cassini-Huygens mission and show some of the spectacular images taken by Cassini’s cameras over the last seven years, emphasising what has been discovered about Saturn’s spectacular and fascinating ring system.

February 18th 2012

Transit of Venus

Dr Robin Gorman (Hampshire Astronomical Group)

From Reading on June 6 2012, if you are prepared to be ready after sunrise (04:51 and 05:53) you will see Venus crossing the disk of the sun for the last time for 105 years.

Fri 9th and Sat 10th March 2012 from 6.00pm

National Science Week

Stargazing evenings

British Science Association, Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5EX (map)

Ever wanted to explore the Universe but can’t get a ride on a rocket? Join us for an evening of astronomy at the University of Reading, where local astronomers will use telescopes to guide you through views of the planets, stars and other delights of the night sky.

This event will be held outdoors so warm clothing and sensible shoes are advised. We will have the use of the pavilion building and hot drinks will be available. The site is wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Please note that what you see will depend on the amount of cloud cover on the night.

FREE, suitable for everyone.

March 17th 2012

10 Things To See

Grant Privett (Shropshire Astronomical Society)

We all know Saturn and the Moon are must see objects in the sky, but there’s so much more to see out there. The talk takes you through a few favourites and some less well known things to see. Its a big universe, why not see all it has to offer?

April 21st 2012

SKYLON

Alan Bond (Reaction Engines Ltd, Culham)

SKYLON is an unpiloted, reusable spaceplane intended to provide inexpensive and reliable access to space. Currently in proof-of-concept phase, the vehicle will take approximately 10 years to develop and will be capable of transporting 15 tonnes of cargo into space.

May 19th 2012

50 Years in space

Richard Fleet Reading Astronomical Society

A look back at the triumphs and tragedies of the space age.

June 16th 2012

Dark Skies – telescope not required!

Gerry Bond (Reading Astronomical Society)

Just how rewarding can an absolutely dark sky be?

Followed by 41st Annual General Meeting