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Our members are quite flexible and happy to use on-line conferencing systems other than Zoom or Skype, however be aware that most of us are Windows PC based |
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. The Policy Document for 2021 (pdf) is available on request (it can be found in the Members section)
(+) 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
(+) 4 Sep 2021 Cookham Regatta
(+) 12 Aug 2021 Perseids meteor shower - (Ockwells Park outreach)
(+) 10 Jun 2021 Solar Eclipse - (partial from UK)
(+) 4 Mar 2021 1st Maidenhead Sea Scouts - (Outreach)
(+) 27 Jan 2021 (and 28) Bourne End Cubs (Outreach)
(+) 14 Nov 2020 Public Viewing Event - (White Waltham)
(+) 9 Nov 2020 Cookham Dean Primary School (ZOOM Outreach)
(+) 4 Apr 2020 Stargazing public event - (POSTPONED)
(+) 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)
Thursday, 14th March 2019 – Furze Platt Beavers (Thursday group)
Team: Adrian (lead), Tim and Andy, plus Tony T. (observer) Report by Adrian
With poor weather in prospect, we had arranged an indoor programme at the scout hut HQ building. As we arrived for the early evening session, an unexpected clear spell gave us an opportunity to view the near first-quarter Moon so we quickly revised the plan.
Tim and Adrian, assisted by Tony, set up small telescopes just outside the building whilst Andy organized the other equipment indoors. The 20+ beavers all had good views through both telescopes before clouds rolled in again. Moving back inside, the beavers’ leaders encouraged them to describe the features of the Moon they had seen.
Andy then presented a slide-show of some easy to identify constellations – Orion, Taurus and The Plough – describing the giant star Betelgeuse, and explaining how to find the Pole Star and Sirius. We followed this with an activity for the beavers: to complete worksheets by joining-the-dots to make the constellation shapes. Most completed the task, some with a little help, one or two coming up with interesting interpretations of the familiar patterns!
After this, Adrian and Tim gave a demonstration of the Moon’s Phases using a model Moon orbiting the beavers grouped together as the ‘Earth’ and illuminated by a flashlight ‘Sun’. The team then fielded a series of questions before we brought the session to a close.
The beavers’ leaders organized a short game and a song to finish off their evening as we packed up.
This was a short session - just 50 minutes – but the young beavers seemed to enjoy it and the leaders thanked the team for providing an interesting evening.
This note last modified: 18th Mar 2019 10:48.