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 (90% partial)
(+) 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
(+) 9 Jul 2026 Cookham Dean Primary School - (outreach)
(+) 29 Jan 2026 Maidenhead 21st Squirrels - (outreach)
(+) 21 Jan 2026 Pinkneys Green Cubs - (outreach)
(+) 12 Jan 2026 Maidenhead Rangers - (outreach)
(+) 3 Dec 2025 1st Cippenham Beavers - (outreach)
(+) 26 Nov 2025 Oldfield Primary School - (outreach)
(+) 19 Nov 2025 Oldfield Primary School - (outreach)
(+) 12 Nov 2025 13th Maidenhead cubs - (outreach)
(+) 6 Nov 2025 6th Windsor cubs - (outreach)
(+) 2 Oct 2025 2nd Burnham Guides - (outreach)
(+) 6 Sep 2025 Cookham Regatta
(+) 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 Cippenham 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)
19th April, 2023 – Newlands Girls’ School (2 - 4pm)
MAS team: Steve, Robin, Adrian D., Adrian J. (lead)
Report by Adrian J.
This was an interesting double event; we had organised two back-to-back sessions at the school. The first was for a small group of (5) year-13 students who are studying an astronomy module as part of their physics A-level; this was to help them revise the ‘telescopes’ topic ahead of upcoming exams.
The second session was for the year-7/8 after-school science club.
We arrived in good time and parked close to the main entrance where the school had reserved spaces for us. We were escorted into the school and Steve, Robin and Adrian D. made their way to the assigned outside area to set up their telescopes. The clouds were starting to break and there was a chance we could do some solar projection / viewing. Adrian J. joined the A-level students in their classroom and gave a talk about telescope design and features, covering the main A-level curriculum topics. The students then moved outside where Steve, Robin and Adrian D. described and demonstrated their telescopes (Dobsonian, refractor and Schmidt-Cass. respectively.) During gaps in the clouds, the students got good views of two prominent sunspots through Adrian’s filtered C8, and by projection on the other scopes.

Steve's Dob. set up in solar projection mode
Photo: Steve
With the first session finished, it was school finishing time and the after-school science club started to arrive. Robin returned to the classroom and gave a short ‘Whats Up’ talk to the group of ??????????????????? students. We then split the class into two groups – one to go outside for telescope viewing, the other staying in the classroom for a (new) talk on Exoplanets by Adrian J. After 15 minutes we swapped the groups over and repeated. All the students got to see the sunspots as more clear spells developed.
The logistics of running two different sessions back to back was a bit more complicated than usual, but organization by the school staff was excellent and the afternoon went smoothly. The students seemed to enjoy the events and feedback from their teachers was very positive indeed. As we packed up to leave, the last of the cloud disappeared leaving a crystal-clear blue sky (of course!)
This note last modified: 20th Apr 2023 13:26.