Main Programme

Virtual Main Meeting
July 18th 2020 7pm onwards.

Provisional – Dr Peter Allan Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
The Gaia mission and its data.

Dr Allan suggests Cancer Research UK be recipients of donations in lieu of expenses.

This is a virtual meeting using Zoom software. Information on logging on etc will be provided soon.

Location – wherever you happen to be.

Virtual Main Meeting
Aug 15th 2020 7pm onwards.

Craig Leff
Mars rovers – latest news – watch this space.

This is a virtual meeting using Zoom software. Information on logging on etc will be provided soon.

Location – wherever you happen to be.

Programme 2020-2021

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 Meetings are wheelchair accessible unless mentioned otherwise

**COVID-19 Policy: Covid regulations may eventually permit some physical meeting. Use will be made of zoom software as well as physically meeting in the hall when it becomes possible. Zoom policy requires passcodes which will be issued by email before each meeting.

September 19th 2020**

Society AGM

A delayed AGM to decide the course of the society for the coming year, followed by….

Ken England – Ken’s annual mustering of astronomy history around years ending in 20.
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

October 17th 2020**

From Galaxies to Life

Roger Davies – Wetton Professor of Astrophysics, Dpt of Physics, U of Oxford,
Roger’s interest is in galaxies, especially radio and elliptical galaxies, and their dynamics.
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

National Astronomy Week

Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November 2020
Mars Encounter in November will give best view of Mars until 2033
The aim of the week is to celebrate the close approach of Mars, and to give members of the public the chance to see the Red Planet in close-up through a telescope.

November 21st 2020**

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

December 12th 2020**

(Nb. 2nd Saturday)

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

January 16th 2021

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

22nd Jan – Friday Club date

February 20th 2021

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

26th Feb – Friday Club date

The hall (to be) booked for a day’s acivities.

Saturday XXth Feb – Open Day .

10am to 5pm Lunch to be arranged.

Open Day

Showcase the society to friends relatives and the world in general.

We will open up at 10am – 5pm at St Peters hall to show, discuss, demonstrate, display all aspects of the society and our enthusiasm for the universe.

The public will be invited fron 13:00 ’til 17:00

If you have material for display but cannot attend it can be handed in at the next two meetings. Anything considered, images, drawings or observation diaries.

The usual refreshments available and bringing your own lunch welcome.

March 20th 2021

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

26th March – Friday Club date

BAA Winchester Weekend. TBA

The annual conference attended by many local astronomers.

April 17th 2021

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

Prospects for Lyrid meteor shower.

23rd Apr – Friday Club date

May 15th 2021

Subject TBN

Guest Speaker – Details
Placeholder
After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

28th May – Friday Club date

June 19th 2021

AGM Night

Including the Annual General Meeting.

Have your say in running the society. Stand for election for posts. Lively discussion. Definitely not boring!

Followed by:

Astronomical Centenaries in 2021(provisional)

Ken England FRAS
Ken is local amateur astronomer with an interest in the history of astronomy. The talk includes several stories from Ken’s article in the December 2019 issue of The Observatory.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members’ activities.

EAST READING FESTIVAL Palmer Park

Sunday ?? 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

25th June – Friday Club

The Summer Triangle

Outline talk on the fascinating stars of this season.
We are open to suggestions for subjects at all these Friday sessions.

After the break….
Members’ activities and talks

16th July – Friday Club

Regular Friday meeting

Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics.
Details posted on ‘next meetings’ column on home page.
We are open to suggestions for subjects
After the break….
Members’ activities and talks