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
(+) 4 Apr 2020 Stargazing public event - (White Waltham)
(+) 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
(+) 13 Nov 2032 Transit of Mercury
(+) 7 Nov 2039 Transit of Mercury - (2nd of pair)
(+) 28 Jul 2061 Halleys 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
(+) 21 Nov 2019 Central Windsor Scouts (Outreach)
(+) 11 Nov 2019 19th Maidenhead Beavers (Outreach)
(+) 11 Nov 2019 Transit of Mercury (2nd of pair)
(+) 4 Nov 2019 Cookham Dean Primary School - (Outreach)
(+) 10 Oct 2019 Holy Trinity School yr3 - (Outreach)
(+) 7 Sep 2019 Cookham Regatta
(+) 29 Aug 2019 Maidenhead Library (Outreach)
(+) 19 Aug 2019 Childrens Reading Challenge Maidenhead Library - (Outreach)
(+) 20 Jul 2019 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing - (Maidenhead Festival)
(+) 4 Apr 2019 Newlands School (Outreach)
(+) 28 Mar 2019 Bourne End Cubs (Outreach)
(+) 14 Mar 2019 Furze Platt Beavers (Outreach)
(+) 24 Feb 2019 Furze Platt cubs (Outreach)
(-) 15 Feb 2019 13th Maidenhead Scouts (Outreach)
Friday, 15th February 2019 - 13th Maidenhead Scouts, Braywick Nature Centre
Outreach team: Andy (lead), Robin, Tim, Steve, Adrian (report by Steve)
The aim of our visit was to enable the Scouts to meet the requirements for their Astronomy Badge.
We arrived at 7pm for a 7.30pm start with a planned ending at about 21.15. Although half of the Braywick car park has been taken over by the building contractors equipment, access to the hall is still possible along a short footpath. A small area remains behind the hall where the telescopes could be set up for observing.
For once the weather was perfect and the 3/4 moon and Orion could easily be seen above the hall roof. The application of some-ones fleece soon covered the security light which would otherwise have ruined our night vision.
The decision was taken to go with plan A, outdoor observing. So we set up 3 telescopes outside to be manned by myself, Tim and Robin, whilst Andy and Adrian would deliver the presentations and 'build a Solar System' task indoors.
The whole group started in doors with Andy introducing the team and Society. Adrian gave a talk on how to tell a man made satellite from an aeroplane or a meteor. This included a video with examples and a web site, www.heavens-above.com, which gives details of when and where satellites can be viewed, so the scouts could plan an observation of a satellite, one requirement for their badge. Andy and Adrian then explained how the Moon causes tides in the Earth's oceans, using the scouts as a model of the oceans. Another badge requirement. The demonstration also included how the Sun contributes to the height of a tide.
The Scouts were then split into two groups of 6 and 7, with one group remaining inside with Adrian and Andy to receive the Introduction to relative sizes and distances of the planets and the "Build a Model of the Solar System" task.
Meanwhile the other group went outdoors and were split into pairs, two per telescope. Here they observed the winter constellations, features on the Moon and were shown the differences between refracting & reflecting telescopes. After 15 mins or so the pairs swapped over and after some 44 mins the two groups swapped from indoors and outdoors and the program was repeated.
For once we actually finished early !
As the Scouts took part in an impromptu Q and A session with Andy and Adrian indoors, the telescopes were packed up by the outdoor team. We finished just as the hall was being closed.
This note last modified: 21st Feb 2019 21:41.