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
(+) 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)
14th January 2022, 1st Cookham Guides
Presenters:- Andy, Robin, Steve (report by Steve) + two 'observers' from MAS (one with telescope !)
Arranged at relatively short notice, for once the weather forecast was good and it looked like we would have a clear sky. So we were all very excited at the prospect of actually seeing the stars for a change.
So much so that I managed to print out an earlier version of the plan with the wrong address for the venue ! After phoning the organisers and getting the correct post code, I arrived after Andy and Robin had already set up their telescopes and started showing the Guides the night sky. Previous experience had taught us that if the weather was good, the planned star gazing should be switched to the start of the event, lest the clouds gather whilst we are talking indoors !
The back of the guides meeting hall is south facing and they have a nice dark grassed area before the car park. From here they had a perfect view of Orion, Gemini and Taurus. The light from the 3/4 full moon passing over Orion did make it hard to pick out some of the fainter stars by eye, however in the telescopes the Pleiades cluster in Taurus was perfectly visible.
Then it was back inside for the model solar-system build. The guides were organised into two teams, of 6 and 5, as I recall. After a quick explanation of the need to squeeze the scale of the distances to get the compete layout into the hall, whilst expanding the scale of the planets to ensure they were big enough to see, both teams set too with a will. Both teams chose similar scaling and each laid out the planets in perfectly correct positions.
Whilst not on the crib sheets handed out, I noted both teams had added a moon to the Earth and both placed a ball "on it's side" for Uranus.
Following the solar system lay out, Robin used Stellarium to give a quick recap of the constellations already observed and explained how astronomers 'map' the sky using Declination (above and below the celestial equator) and Right Ascension (east and west of the Vernal Equinox) - see here (.pdf). He explained how the sun & planets travel along the ecliptic.
The meeting officially closed at 8:30 however as the weather had remained fine, many of the guides wanted another view of the stars, so we want outside again. By the time the organisers called time it was well past 9 pm !
This note last modified: 17th Jan 2022 12:08.