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 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)
28th January, Western House Academy school
Presenters:- Andy, Robin, Arthur, Adrian D, Steve
Report by Steve
A daytime event, starting after lunch at 13:40, so, weather permitting, I would be focussed on the Sun and an outdoor layout of the model Solar System.
On arrival we all had to show a negative result on a Rapid Flow Test, which, I'm pleased to report, we had all passed earlier in the day !
We would be supporting a total of three Year 5 classes who are currently studying the space topic for KS2. The plan called for us to run all 3 classes at the same time, so our team would be split into 3 and run our presentations 3 times, 'back to back' as it where. Each class comprised roughly 30 students and, assuming good weather, two classrooms would be in use with one class outside. Class teachers accompanied their own pupils and would see them from one location to the next.
It was a nice sunny day, if a little cold and windy, so 'Plan A' (the part outdoor program) would go ahead. Andy took one classroom, which included an outdoor session with the solar-telescopes, Robin and Arthur a second presenting constellations, whilst Adrian D assisted me outside with the solar system layout and Q & A.
I chose a good clear path near the grassed area and started by clamping the 'slice of sun' to the two all metal folding chairs. These had been chosen in a Charity Shop for their extra weight after normal garden chairs 'took off' on a windy day. Even so, the trimmed yoga mat 'sun' acted as a 'sail' and I had to place my telescope 'bits box' on one and the bag of solar system balls and bits on the other to stop them moving !
As part of the solar system, I started by handing out eclipse glasses which allowed the Sun to be seen without the glow of the Sun's 'atmosphere' giving a false impression of it's size. Most pupils were amazed to see the real size of the Sun as it appears from earth. When the 2.7m wide 'slice of sun' was shown compared to the 25mm Earth, again many were amazed, although one student could tell me that it would take 1.3 million Earths to fill the Sun's volume (interestingly, it only takes 330,000 Earths to match the mass ('weight') of the Sun).
When asking questions, I found the pupils to be one of the most knowledgeable groups we had ever presented to. I was amazed to discover that that they knew which planet was discovered by William Herschel (Uranus) and which was only found in 1846 (Neptune) !
On completing the layout of the solar system model, which had to be squeezed down to fit into the playground. The 25mm Earth should have been 294m from the 2.7m Sun and the true position of the 96mm (approx tennis ball sized) Neptune should have been 8.8km away (see Note 1 at end below).
The class then divided naturally into two halves and we took questions, all of which were most searching.
After the the first talk, one of the students came up to tell me that this had been 'the best class ever' !
The next class followed the same format, however by the 3rd class, the clouds had started to cover the sun and whilst the eclipse glasses were still used it was hard to see the whole of the Sun's disk.
The last class ended at 15:30, after which the parents arrived to collect their offspring whilst we packed up.
Report by Robin
I used a Stellarium Script modified from the Cub Badge to take the three groups through finding Polaris, the Celestial Equator and Poles, Circumpolar stars, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor & Cassiopeia. We then looked south to find Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Sirius and Leo.
I added a final section using PowerPoint showing the Solar System in the Milky Way Galaxy and the Local Galaxy Group. I pointed out that all the stars and constellations we can see are very close (relatively) to us, being mostly in our little "corner" of the Milky Way.
Questions came thick and fast from all three groups showing that they had taken in and enjoyed their previous class work, with none of the usual "are there aliens" style of question.
Report by Andy
I started by explaining to the young astronomers the reasons why Astronomers use telescopes.
The class was then split into two halves so that Arthur and I could each run a separate session simultaneously.
I took one group outside to look at some real telescopes, whilst the other remained in the classroom for Arthur's 'relative size of objects in the universe' topic.
Outside, I demonstrated Steve's Dobsonian reflector that was projecting an image of the Sun for safe viewing. Robin's refractor was also projecting an image of the Sun. The students then used the society's solarscope to view the Sun.
A couple of sunspots were visible through these instruments but the Sun became obscured by clouds, as the afternoon progressed, so later groups missed out on these images.
Arthur used his poster to show relative sizes of bodies both within the Solar System and in deep space. After ten minutes the inside and outside groups were swapped. Arthur and I then re-ran our talks.
The sequence was then repeated for the two remaining classes, so whilst Robin and Steve went through their material 3 times, Arthur and I ran ours 6 times !
Steve's Note 1. To design your own Scale Solar System, see here.
This note last modified: 9th Feb 2022 14:54.