Laser Pens |
Maidenhead Astronomical Society may use Laser Pens as a pointer during outreach events and talks. Any such use will comply with our Laser Pen Policy, which may be downloaded from here (.pdf)
Essentially, only responsible adults pre-approved by MAS are allowed to use a laser pointer at an outreach event. Children under the age of 18 and non-approved adults are not permitted to use the laser pen at any time. Any member of the public bringing their own device (without pre-approval) is asked not to use it during one of our events (and will be asked to leave if they are not willing to comply with this request).
Future Public Events |
This page is dedicated to events promoted by Maidenhead Astronomical Society aimed at bringing an awareness and appreciation of astronomy to the general public. Almost all of the Events listed here are run by MAS (the few that are not are plainly marked)
Details of future planned events are limited to those open to the general public (Members should look in the Members Only section for details of future events not open to the public - which includes most of our local Outreach activities (schools, cubs, brownies etc)).
Future events are listed in date order, next planned first. Be aware that events can change (usually due to the weather :-) ) so please check nearer the event before making a journey
Note. MAS holds Public Liability Insurance via our membership of Federation of Astronomical Societies. Our Policy Document for 2017-18 is available as a PDF download here
(+) 11 Nov 2019 Transit of Mercury (2nd of pair)
(+) 10 Jun 2021 Solar Eclipse - (partial from UK)
(+) 25 Oct 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse
(+) 7 Mar 2025 (and 22) Major Lunar Standstill
(+) 29 Mar 2025 Partial Solar Eclipse
(+) 12 Aug 2026 Solar Eclipse
(+) 26 Jan 2028 annular Solar Eclipse
(+) 1 Jun 2030 annular Solar Eclipse
(+) 28 Jul 2061 Hallys Comet returns
(+) 23 Sep 2090 Total Solar Eclipse - (the next visible from UK)
Reports from our Outreach & Event activity |
Here you will find reports of MAS events held in the last 10 years or so (i.e. since the MAS web site effectively 'took over' from printed newsletters as the primary means of 'reporting back' to the membership). Some details have been removed to allow for public viewing
The Members Only section contains details of MAS History going back to our formation in 1957
(+) 29 Nov 2018 ALLsorts (Outreach)
(+) 18 Nov 2018 Furze Platt Cubs (Outreach)
(+) 7 Nov 2018 Furze Platt Cubs (Outreach)
(+) 5 Nov 2018 Cookham Dean Primary School (Outreach)
(+) 20 Oct 2018 Furze Platt Beavers (Outreach)
(+) 10 Oct 2018 WILLIAM LASSELL by Kenlem England (MAS) - (Maidenhead Heritage Centre)
(+) 11 Aug 2018 CANCELLED Persieds Observing - (Ockwells Park)
(+) 27 Jul 2018 Total Lunar Eclipse
(+) 30 Jun 2018 (end) Maidenhead Week - (Lassell at Heritage Center)
(+) 23 May 2018 Wycombe Abbey School (Outreach)
(+) 12 May 2018 Lassell grave clear up
(+) 11 May 2018 Lassell grave tidy up
(+) 8 May 2018 9th Maidenhead Brownies - (Outreach)
(-) 28 Apr 2018 Maidenhead Arts Festival
Saturday 28th April 2018 - Maidenhead Arts Spring Festival, at Maidenhead Library.
Present: Percy, Tim H, Lesley, Robin, SteveB. Report by Steve.
The weather forecast was not good - in fact it was raining as I loaded up the car. However I loaded my sun-projection kit (see Warning at end) anyway. All-day parking in Maidenhead Town Center is prohibitively expensive - most car parks charge at least £8 for anything over 4 hrs - so my partner drove down to the Library at 9.30am, where I unloaded, after which she drove the car away. I would phone her to pick me up before 4pm.
As I was moving my kit into the Library, one of the organisers arrived and helped by bringing in one of the bags. As soon as I was pointed at a desk in the Library Cafe, which had been closed for this event, I 'claimed' it by loading it with bags of kit.
Lesley soon arrived and helped me setup the MAS banner opposite our desk. She then set up the 'sales desk' whilst I unpacked the 'rolling photoframe' on the end of the table. Tim arrived next and started to unpack his display items whilst I setup my Dob. After a quick consultation with Tim, we decided not to use the MAS publicity display boards. So as Tim arranged some pages from his observing notebook with drawings of Saturn on the Library display board behind the table I moved some of the material across from our own display boards.
As I was assembling the 'Dave and Becky' (donated) telescope, the Maidenhead Painting Club, who had been setting up on the table next to ours, decided that there would be be insufficient space for their planned demonstration by members drawing and painting 'live'. On obtaining permission to move into the main body of the Library, they picked up their table and left !
We immediately expanded 'sideways' - by adding a table from the Cafe with a PC connected to the MAS website - whilst the Windsor & Maidenhead Embroiderers’ Guild started arranging material on the Library display board left behind by the Painters. Robin (and Mrs Robin) then arrived with his kit, including the Solarscope, however with little prospect of seeing the Sun at all he decided not to unpack it yet. Finally, Percy arrived and setup a small refractor just to the left of the Web Site display table.
Photo Left: Robin, Embroiderers’ Guild display, Percy, PC showing website, front = Tim, rear = donated telescope, display boards, front = 'shop', rolling photoframe, Lesley, Steve's Dob.
Photo Right: Robin, Embroiderers’ Guild display, Percy's refractor, then as Photo LeftDespite the weather - intermittent light rain - the Maidenhead Singers were soon outside delivering their show. Robin and Tim went out to join them - as actors or spectators I'm not sure !
As mid-day approached and it was obvious from the 100% cloud cover that there would be no Sun observing, I went outside to advise the Singers that we would not be using our time-slot and they could 'over-run' for as long as they wished. Whilst waiting for a moment to speak to the 'actors' I ran into one of the event organisers and advised her that our 'sun observing' would not take place.
When I returned to the display table, Robin announced that he was off to find a coffee shop and would we like him to bring back a 'take away' ? Since the Library cafe was closed I asked if he could find me a coffee. He soon returned with a nice hot cup which I much enjoyed along with the ham sandwich I had prepared for lunch.
Above photo by Tim, with the table all set up and MAS members Percy, Steve and Lesley waiting to assist members of the public.
After lunch Tim took the opportunity to do a bit of shopping in town. Meanwhile a member of the public told us that they were having difficulty using their telescope. From the description of the problem it sounded like a focusing issue, however without actually seeing the instrument it was impossible to recommend a solution. Fortunately, this coming Friday is the date of our next monthly meeting (May 4th) so we suggested she bring her telescope along for us to check over. After showing her how to locate the meeting hall by following directions on the web site, Percy volunteered his telephone number in case she needed assistance !
When Tim returned from his shopping trip, it was my turn. When I got back, the photographer from the Maidenhead Advertiser had arrived and was taking a few shots of our display and telescopes. Just after we started to pack up - about 3pm - the reporter from the Advertiser arrived and we had a quick chat. I pointed him at our website which I hoped would answer most of his questions.
Overall, if was a very quire affair with few visitors, however we did sell half-a-dozen items from the 'shop' and hope to solve a star-gazers problems with their telescope at the next meeting !
*** WARNING *** Never use a normal telescope to look directly at the Sun = this will BLIND YOU. The MAS Solarscope has a special internal filter that cuts out over 99% of the light and almost all the exceedingly harmful Infra-Red (heat) radiation. To use a normal telescope, a special Solar Filter MUST be fitted than performs the same function. The safest method is to project an image of the sun from the telescope onto a white screen.
This note last modified: 30th Apr 2018 11:43.