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(Note on General Data Protection Regs. moved here)
Members Annual Photo Competition 2021 |
Postponed from 2020 due to Covid. Entries are now open for the 2021 competition (closing date is 5th November 2021). You have to be a member to enter. Further details on the Photo Competition page and in the Members section. If you have problems logging in, contact the Membership Sec. or Webmaster
MEMBERS see MAS LOGO Fleeces
Next Months Meeting |
Friday, 4th February 2022 Ask an Expert (by Members)
We have now moved back to indoor meetings (starting with the September 2021 meeting). These run from 7.30 to 10pm in the Church Hall, St James-the-Less, Stubbings, Maidenhead, SL6 6QW (for directions, see our About & Contact page)
Meetings are normally on the first Friday of the month, September to June. There are no indoor meetings in July or August (unless indicated)
Beginners and visitors are always welcome at our indoor meetings (you don't have to join, however a £2 contribution toward the costs of the hall hire would be most welcome !)
To contact the society between meetings, please complete the on-line General Enquiry form
If you would like to receive, by email, advanced notification of our free public events, or you would like further information about the Society please use the Enquiry form mentioned above - or just turn up at any meeting and speak to any member of the Committee.
We also have a page on the Maidenhead Arts Council web site (where you will find details of other local clubs and societies if, for some inexplicable reason, Astronomy fails to fire your imagination and seize your interest :-) )
This seasons meetings |
(download printable guide PDF )
Friday, 3rd September 2021How we reached the Moon (Jerry Stone) |
Friday, 4th February 2022Ask an Expert (by Members) |
Friday, 1st October 2021Dark Nebulae (Owen Brazell) |
Friday, 4th March 2022TBA ((TBA)) |
Friday, 5th November 2021CANCELLED (Hall closed) |
Friday, 1st April 2022Saturn (Michael Foulkes) |
Friday, 3rd December 2021Christmas Quiz set by members (followed by Social Evening) |
Friday, 6th May 2022TBA ((TBA)) |
Friday, 7th January 2022Telescope Parade and informal equipment discussion (by Members) |
Friday, 10th June 2022MAS 65th AGM (NOTE 2nd Friday) |
(Table: http://www.maidenhead-astro.net/public/Home/index#2_bm)
Members :- Please log-in to the Members Only section for details of our next members only Event
Next Public Event |
25 Oct 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse
25 October 2022, 09:57, partial Solar Eclipse of which only 16% is visible from UK
This note last modified: 9th Mar 2015 15:07.
See our Events page for more information about all our Events
Click here for MAS Facebook page
Monday, 9 May 2016: Transit of Mercury, members of MAS gathered in Ockwells Park to show the Transit to the public. For more details, see report on Events page
WARNING: never look at the Sun through a normal telescope !!
Doing so, WILL BLIND YOU !!!
Most recent Event Report |
Details of all our planned and past activities can be found on the Events pages.
Note that Outreach events are not usually open to the public, so are reported here only AFTER the event (Members can see planned Outreach dates in the Members Only section, Activity planning pages)
9 Dec 2021 Windsor Cental Scouts 2 - (Outreach)
9th December 2021, Central Windsor Scouts #2
Presenters:- Adrian, Robin, Steve (report by Steve)
The second of two presentations to the Windsor Scouts in a row. Needless to say, the weather was no better, in fact it was actually raining ! After the previous days experience I was able to find the hall without difficulty, arriving just before 7pm to find Robin and Adrian had again arrived first.
This time there was no earlier Cubs/Beavers meeting, so we were able to get straight in. With the Scout Association's current Covid "yellow readiness" status still in effect, we all put on our masks before unloading and setting up.
As before, the screen was set up next to the flag but this time Robin managed to find a bigger table which he set longways on making it easier to set up the beamer and his laptop whilst giving maximum visibility to the seated Scouts.
The Scout group was slightly smaller than previous, only 12 or 13 however they were just as enthusiastic. Robin used Stellarium to deliver his 'constellations' talk, guided by the 'script'. This stepped through from Ursa Major, to Polaris, back to Ursa Minor and away to Cassiopeia as he explained how to find North. A quick overview of other constellations visible in the sky right now followed, including Taurus, Orion and Gemini, highlighting the major stars, including Sirius the brightest star in the sky, part of the constellation of Canis Major.
Robin then used Stellarium to support Adrian's talk on how the stars shift from night to night and season to season.
The chairs were cleared away and the Scouts gathered in the center of the hall for Adrian's practical demonstration of why the stars differ as the Earth spins and rotates around the Sun. He then followed with a demonstration of how the moon's gravity caused the tides, whilst I moved the Moon round the group. With Robin acting as the Sun, he explained how the Sun's gravity adds or subtracts to the height of the tides.
The pack was then divided into its 4 "six's" for the 'build a model of the Solar System' activity. With Robin's planet diameter and solar distance ratio chart shown on the screen the Scouts selected scaled planets from a box of balls and decided on a layout scale. All 4 completed the task with flying colours, 3 selecting a ball with different colour halves and placing them on their side to represent Uranus.
Adrian finished own talks with a demonstration of 'how to make a telescope' using magnifying glasses and spectacle lenses with best quality cardboard tubes !
The evening ended with two new Scouts 'invested' and the lowering of the flag.
This note last modified: 10th Dec 2021 12:51.
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For the latest news, follow us on Twitter (javascript must be enabled for the 'button' below to work). Our latest Twitter postings can also be seen on the Observing page
Follow @MaidenheadAstroIf the fancy Twitter button doesn't appear above, you can exit to Twitter using this old fashioned URL link :-)
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We now have our own Facebook page !
exit to: Maidenhead Astronomical Society on Facebook
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 pointer at an outreach event. Children under the age of 18 and non-approved adults are not be allowed 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).
Links
Robotic Telescopes (MAS Links page)
Where we meet (MAS About page)
'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ, MAS Beginners page)
exit to: Maidenhead Arts Council (MADAC) MAS web page
exit to: Tim's list of Asteroid Occultation observation opportunities
exit to: European Asteroidal Occultation Network
exit to: Space Weather
exit to: Heavens-Above - times of everything passing overhead, especially ISS, satellites and Iridium flares
exit to: The Astronomer on-line - magazine for the advanced amateur
exit to: BAA (British Astronomical Association)
exit to: SPA (Society for Popular Astronomy) - especially suitable for younger stargazers !
Benefactors and supporters
O2 (award report)
exit to Cash-for-the-community (Baylis Trust)
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Lottery grant
RBWM-Education Directorate
Mr B.Smith of Shottesbrooke
Mrs P.Haymes
The Telegraph newspaper
exit to Oregon Scientific
exit to Telescope house