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)
(+) 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
(+) 7 Apr 2025 Furze Platt Beavers Overnight Camp - (outreach)
(+) 3 Apr 2025 1st Bourne End Thursday Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 2 Apr 2025 1st Bourne End Wednesday Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 29 Mar 2025 Partial Solar Eclipse - (Ockwells Park)
(+) 21 Mar 2025 Kaizen Explorers - (outreach)
(+) 7 Mar 2025 (and 22) Major Lunar Standstill
(+) 3 Mar 2025 Littlewick Green Beavers - (outreach)
(+) 26 Feb 2025 1st Maidenhead Beavers - (outreach)
(+) 11 Feb 2025 1st Maidenhead Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 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)
This was a day-time event for the Year 5 students (KS2 space topic), 3 classes one each of 26, 27 and 28. We would have two classrooms and the playground outside the two classrooms 'reserved' for our use.
The weather forecast was for around 0 degrees, but good seeing. As I loaded up there was a rather heavy fog, with the sun only just visible. Andy had prepared a 'Plan B' in case we were forced inside, however it was not as cold as forecast.
By the time we arrived at around 10:30 am the fog had started to thin a little, so we set-up our telescopes outside for Sun observing. Adrian had the Society Solar-scope, Robin and myself our normal telescopes with a 'sun projection screen'.
We would run through the various activities 3 times, once for each class. One run in the morning, then the break for lunch and then twice in the afternoon, finishing at around 3:15 pm.
Adrian and I were outside with the Solar System layout. By the time the classes started, the fog had cleared. I quickly set up my Dob. and then focussed on the main task, the scale solar system. Unable to find a table for my 'slice of sun' I grabbed a pair of the bollards being used to 'cordon off' the end section of the playground. These did the job.
By the time the first class was coming out, the fog had cleared and it was starting to get warmer.
At lunchtime we visited the Staff Room, 12.30 to 13.30 pm. I noted than whilst most of my fellow MAS members had opted to bring sandwiches, Arthur managed to blag a Macaroni cheese and salad from the school canteen ! The staff were also good enough to offer the use of mugs for tea and coffee, for which many thanks !
Report by Adrian
I started the Solar System session by testing their knowledge of the motions of the Moon around the Earth and Earth around the Sun. Using a 150mm foam ball ‘Earth’ I then asked the group to guess the size and distance of the Moon. All guessed too big and too close! (Correct answer was a 40 mm ping-pong ball at 4.5m.) Then with a 200 mm balloon for the Sun, they were challenged to guess the size and distance of the Earth, choosing a ball or bead from the box and standing at what they thought was the correct distance. Some got the scale distance right this time (about 22 m) but no one selected a small enough object for Earth (2 mm!)
All of this underlined why it’s so difficult to make a truly scale model of the Solar System, and led nicely into the next activity – laying out a (compressed) scale model of the Solar System. Steve explained the task and the students were organised into 4 teams.
Steve - each 'team leader' was given the 'crib sheet' showing relative planet sizes and relative orbits, with Earth = '1'. They were then let loose to choose planets and decide their own scale.
Some of the teams got to grips with it quickly and soon had good models laid out. We had the benefit of a large area of the playground, allowing a bigger distance scale than is usually possible. This did lead to one difficulty when a team’s Neptune – about 30 metres away – was picked up and carried off by a curious year-1 youngster who had wandered over and though it was a good size for his game! A few of the teams needed a little help, but we were impressed by the knowledge of some; for example, the team who added two rulers to indicate the Kuiper Belt, and added a few dwarf planets to boot!
After clearing the models away, there was just time for a few questions before the next group arrived.
Steve - We spent 10 or 15 minutes answering questions. During this time, Andy came out with his class to explain the use of the solar-scope and shown them projections of the sun spots. I nipped over to adjust the Dob. to aim at the sun whilst Adrian continued the Q & A.
Report by Robin
I was presenting the "What is in the sky?" topic in the end classroom of block B. I started with "The Pole Star and How To Find It" using Stellarium, mentioning circumpolar constellations, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia. I then pointed out the pronominal and easy to find winter constellation of Orion specifically. I finished the Stellarium presentation by showing the current positions of Venus, Jupiter and Mars.
Pupils make their own constellation with sticky stars and we finished with a Q&A session. The questions came thick and fast, as usual.
I made a point to explain difference between stars and planets in the Q&A sessions for all three groups.
There were several bright young astronomers who obviously want to go into space!
All three groups were bright and attentive and fun to talk to.
Andy and Arthur
We presented the Universe scale and the Telescope demonstrations.
Each class started in classroom with a brief explanation of how telescopes work. A small Newtonian reflector with a 'cut away' tube was used to illustrate how mirror telescopes work.
The class was then split into two halves, one going outside to see the telescope, while other half view Arthur’s Universe Scale posters and discuss. The two halves were swapped after around 15 minutes.
The Telescopes were placed outside the third classroom and consisted of the Society Solar-scope, Robin's small refractor and Steve's reflector, the last two being set up for solar-projection, allowing sun spots to be seen.
This note last modified: 22nd Feb 2023 10:52.