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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE !
Dear MAS FriendsShe will be greatly missed, not just as our chairman but as a friend to many. As you will be aware Susan had been ill for some time but fought hard, remained positive and continued to support and lead the Society even whilst she was in hospital and receiving treatment. Most of us saw her last at the AGM in June where she showed her usual enthusiasm in leading the meeting and keeping the focus on the business of the Society. The Committee and Members have all benefited, and will continue to do so, from Susan's strong leadership and dedication over the years. We will all miss her guidance and presence at future meetings and events. She cared passionately about our Society. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made but we will pass on details when available. Tim, Kristina and Lesley On behalf of the Committee |
MEMBERS see General Data Protection Regulations |
Annual Photo Compitition. You have to be a member to enter. Next closing date May 2019. Further details in the Members section. If you have problems logging in, contact the Membership Sec. or Webmaster
Next Months Meeting |
Friday, 5th October 2018 The Future is out of this World ( Dr Stuart Eves FRAS)
All our indoor meetings 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 |
Friday, 7th September 201813 Journeys through space and Time (Postponed new date TBA) |
Friday, 1st February 2019Ask the expert (members panel) |
Friday, 5th October 2018The Future is out of this World ( Dr Stuart Eves FRAS) |
Friday, 1st March 2019The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) (Dr. Aprajita Verma) |
Friday, 2nd November 2018Short talks (by members) |
Friday, 5th April 2019Space Weather (Dr Colin Forsyth) |
Thursday, 6th December 2018Christmas Quiz and Social ( ) |
Friday, 3rd May 2019To be announced ( ) |
Friday, 4th January 2019Equipment exhibition ( ) |
Friday, 7th June 2019MAS 61st AGM ( ) |
(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 |
11 Nov 2019 Transit of Mercury (2nd of pair)
11 November 2019: Transit of Mercury, start 12:35, mid 15:19, ends 16:015 (all times for Reading)
Like Transits of Venus, these occur in pairs, this being the second of the 2016/19 pair. Although Transits of Mercury are less rare than a transit of Venus, the next Mercury pair will not be until 2032/39 (see wikipedia).
For more on this transit, visit the time and date website
This note last modified: 27th Feb 2016 11:09.
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)
11 Aug 2018 CANCELLED Persieds Observing - (Ockwells Park)
Saturday, 11th August - Ockwells Park, 10pm onward (free entry).
Bad weather = 100% clouds with rain forecast later - means that this event has been CANCELLED.
MAS Members will be setting up their telescopes at Ockwells Park, Ockwells Road, Cox Green, Maidenhead SL6 3AA on Saturday 11 August, from 10.00pm to observe the annual Perseids Meteor Shower. This years shower is predicted to be one of the best with peaks of perhaps 100 per hour on Saturday (and Sunday) night. They will be especially easy to see as the 11th is the first night of the new Moon, so there will be no moonlight at all. Earlier this day there is a partial solar eclipse, however it will not be visible from UK
Entry is Free and all are welcome !!
You don't need a telescope or binoculars to see the meteors, although MAS members will be using both to look at the stars and planets. Indeed, Saturday 11th is a rare opportunity to view all 8 planets in one night (those wishing to see Venus before it 'sets' below the horizon will need to arrive early, those wishing to see Mercury will need to be up just before dawn on Sunday) !
Planet rises sets
Venus Sat 10:05 Sat 21:45 Great visibility
Jupiter Sat 13:48 Sat 23:12 Fairly good visibility
Saturn Sat 17:55 Sun 01:50 Perfect visibility
Mars Sat 20:25 Sun 03:24 Perfect visibility
Neptune Sat 21:18 Sun 08:17 Difficult to see
Uranus Sat 22:36 Sun 12:44 Average visibility
Mercury (5am Sun) Extremely difficult to see
For meteor observing, it's always a good idea to bring along a ground sheet or a garden chair (that can be laid back) so you can look up at the sky, as the ground may well be wet.
This note last modified: 12th Aug 2018 11:45.
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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 be seen on the Observing page
Follow @MaidenheadAstro|
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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