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 2022-23 (pdf) is available on request (it can be found in the Members section)
(+) 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
(+) 23 Oct 2024 Manor Green - (outreach)
(+) 2 May 2024 Newlands Girls School - (outreach)
(+) 26 Apr 2024 1st Britwell Scouts - (outreach)
(+) 27 Feb 2024 1st Cookham Beavers(2) - (outreach)
(+) 26 Feb 2024 1st Cookham Beavers(1) - (outreach)
(+) 6 Feb 2024 7th Windsor Brownies - (outreach)
(+) 15 Jan 2024 Cookham Dean Primary School - (outreach)
(+) 12 Jan 2024 1st Cippenham Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 6 Dec 2023 Bisham Brownies - (outreach)
(+) 22 Nov 2023 Furze Platt Cubs (2nd pack) - (outreach)
(+) 21 Nov 2023 Furze Platt Cubs (1st pack) - (outreach)
(+) 10 Nov 2023 Trinity St Stephans School - (outreach)
(+) 2 Sep 2023 Cookham Regatta
(+) 19 Apr 2023 Newlands School - (outreach)
(+) 18 Mar 2023 Highfield Prep School Look to the Stars - (Public Event)
(+) 4 Mar 2023 Maidenhead Big Read - (Maidenhaed Library)
(+) 23 Feb 2023 Bourne End cubs (2nd pack) - (outreach)
(+) 22 Feb 2023 Bourne End cubs (1st pack) - (outreach)
(+) 8 Feb 2023 Western House Academy - (outreach)
(+) 18 Jan 2023 1st Cippenham Beavers - (outreach)
(+) 12 Jan 2023 6th Windsor Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 21 Nov 2022 Cookham Dean C of E School - (outreach)
(+) 12 Nov 2022 White Waltham Academy - (outreach)
(+) 8 Nov 2022 1st Maidenhead Sea Cubs (2nd visit) - (outreach)
(+) 1 Nov 2022 1st Maidenhead Sea Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 25 Oct 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse
(+) 3 Sep 2022 Cookham Regatta
(+) 15 Jun 2022 Newlands KS3 Science Club - (Outreach)
(+) 18 Mar 2022 21st Maidenhead Scouts - (outreach)
(+) 10 Mar 2022 Wargrave Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 9 Mar 2022 Wargrave Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 28 Jan 2022 Western House Academy - (Outreach)
(+) 14 Jan 2022 1st Cookham Guides - (Outreach)
(+) 9 Dec 2021 Windsor Cental Scouts 2 - (Outreach)
(+) 8 Dec 2021 Windsor Cental Scouts - (Outreach)
(+) 2 Dec 2021 Furze Platt Beavers - (Outreach)
(+) 16 Nov 2021 Cookham Beavers 2 - (Outreach)
(+) 15 Nov 2021 Cookham Beavers - (Outreach)
(-) 8 Nov 2021 Cookham Dean School - (Outreach)
8th November 2021, Cookham Dean CofE School
Presenters:- Andy, Steve (report by Steve)
After the last weeks Outreach cancellation by two groups of cubs (due to positive tests amongst the kids) and the cancellation of our monthly meeting (when the Meeting Hall was quarantined following a positive test), I was amazed that this one went ahead !
Andy, a STEM Ambassador, arrived on-site in mid morning to present to a small group, whilst I arrived at around 12:45 for the 1:30 start. A Teacher found him in the Library with a small group of 4 or 5 students who were completing some written work.
I would be doing the Solar System talk and layout across the road in the sports field, whilst Andy would do the indoor presentation on Moon phases etc.
It was at this stage we realised that the classroom set aside for the talks might have not have a display that would support Andy's PC. Fortunately I had packed the Society beamer, but not the large and rather unwieldy screen. I did volunteer to go back for it, but in the event Andy found they had a HD screen that he could plug into.
Next came the unloading. Parking is very restricted around the School, however I was allowed to pack my car just inside the sports field gate to unload. I quickly set up my 'sun' (slice) between two chairs and ran the 30 meter marked string for planet positioning. In the daylight and against the grass, the green marks on the string were rather hard to see, so I pegged out the first 10 meters at 2m intervals and the rest at 5m intervals.
At around 1pm, Andy checked on Robin only to discover he had just been told to 'self isolate' for 3 days prior to a Hospital appointment ! So Andy would do the constellations and I would take on the telescope talk. To this end Andy delivered the Society Solarscope to the field whilst I unloaded my Dobsonian. Unfortunately, whilst there was some suggestion of a visible Sun behind the tress during he morning, by 1pm it was totally clouded over.
Year 6 would be split into 2 groups, around 18 to 20 each, and we would have around 45 minutes with each group in turn. My plan was 15mins on the differences between mirror (Dobsonian) and glass lens (Solarscope) telescopes, followed by 30 mins on the Solar System with the 'planets' being laid out at scale distances along the string.
Needless to say, we over-run on the first group and had to hurry up the second. So whilst I gave the first ground a short explanation on the advantages of the EQ mount and how a smart phone app. (Stellarium free, Google Skymap) can be used to find objects in the night sky, I skipped this with the second group.
The students were all very attentive and asked some searching questions, including did I believe in UFO's !
It was well after 3pm when the second group departed as the parents had started to assemble outside the gates.
This note last modified: 16th Nov 2021 14:18.