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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE
COVID-19 UPDATE. 5th November meeting is CANCELLED (due to Hall closed after positive result)
(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, 7th January 2022 Telescope Parade and informal equipment discussion (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)
2 Dec 2021 Furze Platt Beavers - (Outreach)
2nd December 2021, Furze Platt Beavers
Presenters:- Andy, Adrian, Steve (report by Steve)
The day before the event, the organisers had to decide if the Scout HQ or the Marion Meadow outdoor field site would be used. The outdoor site would allow us to get out our telescopes and see the planets and stars, so is to be preferred. Unfortunately, the weather forecast could not guarantee clear skies, so the decision was taken to hold the meeting at the Scout HQ.
In the event, the skies were indeed clear. However, whilst there is some hard standing at the front of the HQ building, this is directly on the main road. The street lights were so bright that the stars were masked out. In fact, the only thing we could see in the sky was Jupiter !
On arrival we masked-up in compliance with the Scout Association's current Covid "yellow readiness" status and unloaded our equipment. The Scout HQ is on two floors, with the main meeting area upstairs. After a quick inspection, it was agreed that Andy and Adrian would take the main hall to deliver the 'finding north' and constellations talk, along with the Moon phases activity. I would take to ground floor for the Solar System Quiz and layout.
Soon around 23 beavers arrived and the talks kicked of at about 6:30. There was a minor delay whilst Andy convinced his laptop to send what was on it's display to the beamer during which Adrian delivered an impromptu Q and A on the names of planets. Once the Big Dipper was being shown, Andy delivered his talk on finding north.
This was followed by an activity with the beavers devising and drawing their own Constellation. Sticky stars allowed the Beavers to select their own star colours.
The pack was split into two halves, with Andy and Adrian delivering the Moon phases activity, whilst I went downstairs to do the Solar System talk. After fifteen minutes the two groups swapped over and we ran through the talks. With many questions the first half over-ran a few minutes, so I rushed the second half a little. The whole Beaver pack then finished the evenings meeting upstairs whilst I packed up my 'props' downstairs.
Once again the evening seemed to be over all too soon.
This note last modified: 4th Dec 2021 18:08.
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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