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
(+) 20 Jan 2025 Cookham Dean Primary school - (outreach)
(+) 5 Dec 2024 1st Sippenham Scouts - (outreach)
(+) 19 Nov 2024 9th Maidenhead Brownies - (outreach)
(+) 15 Nov 2024 1st Pinkneys Green Guides - (outreach)
(+) 6 Nov 2024 4th Taplow guides - (outreach)
(+) 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)
12th January 2023 - 6th Windsor Cubs - Outreach
Andy (lead), Robin, Steve (report by Steve)
As normal Andy had prepared two plans, one for outdoor observing, the second for indoor talks in the all too likely event we were rained or clouded out.
As I loaded up the car for a 5:30 arrival aimed at a 6pm start I was sure I felt a few drops of rain. However it was only the wind blowing water off the trees, as when I arrived the clouds had parted and we had some good views to the south, despite the street lights.
By the time I arrived, after having been caught by roadworks on the Maidenhead Windsor road, Andy and Robin had decided to go ahead with the outdoor program. The cubs wound be split into two groups, one half getting the Constellations and Solar System talk from Andy, whilst the other half was outside looking through our telescopes. After half an hour the two groups would switch over.
After unloading the equipment to support Andy indoors, I grabbed the corner of the building to set up my Dob. This allowed me to aim through the main entrance, avoiding the trees, and across the road to the south at Jupiter, with the option of swinging 90 degrees to aim west at Mars. Robin, with his higher tripod mount, set up nearer the main doors from where he aimed initially at Mars.
Whilst Robin was setting up, Andy came out to tell me that the Solar System Quiz 'crib sheets' were nowhere to be found. A quick search through the bags confirmed my fears - they must have been left at a previous event ! I would reprint them later but for now Andy would just have to wing it :-)
During the next 10 or 15 minutes whilst I was trying to align my finder scope with the main tube, the cubs arrived. I went inside just in time for the 'introduction'. The 15 cubs were split into groups of 7 and 8 and I went back out with one group, whilst Andy started his talk with the other.
Needless to say, when we got outside the clouds had started to gather and Jupiter was already obscured. Fortunately, during Robin's talk, the clouds parted again and all of the cubs were able to see Jupiter and it's moons through my Dob. All 4 moons were on the same side of the planet, 3 nicely lined up in a row from outermost Callisto, then Ganymede and Io. Europa was to be seen inside Io, slightly out of the line and closer to the planet.
After around 20 minutes the clouds started to gather again, with Jupiter swinging in and out of view. At the suggestion of one of the assistant cub leaders, who expressed a keen interest in Astronomy (and I rather monopolised), I nipped indoors and interrupted Andy's Solar System talk to suggest we switch the groups early to give the second half a chance to observe before we were totally clouded out. He concurred and the switch was made.
In the event, the clouds cleared and the second group were able to see Jupiter, it's moons and, via Robin's scope Mars.
All too quickly our time was up and the meeting ended. By the time the parents had picked up their offspring I had almost finished reloading the car. We were then warned that the meeting hall would soon be in use by the Scouts. So I left in a bit of a hurry before being blocked in by any new arrivals, although this time I did take the precaution of casting a quick eye around the hall to make sure nothing had been forgotten !
This note last modified: 16th Jan 2023 20:51.