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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE !
MEMBERS see MAS LOGO Fleeces |
(Note on General Data Protection Regs. moved here)
Annual Photo Compitition 2020. Entries are now open for the 2020 compitition, winners will be announced at the AGM. You have to be a member to enter. Next closing date May 2020. Further details in the Members section. If you have problems logging in, contact the Membership Sec. or Webmaster
Next Months Meeting |
Friday, 7th February 2020 Ask an expert Q and A panel (By Members)
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 |
(download printable guide PDF )
Friday, 6th September 2019History of Mars Exploration (Jim House) |
Friday, 7th February 2020Ask an expert Q and A panel (By Members) |
Friday, 4th October 2019Kew Observatory and the origins of modern solar physics (Dr Lee Macdonald) |
Friday, 6th March 2020TBA ( ) |
Friday, 1st November 2019The Origin of the Solar System (James Fradgley) |
Friday, 3rd April 2020TBA ( ) |
Friday, 6th December 2019Xmas Quiz and social (By members) |
Friday, 1st May 2020TBA ( ) |
Friday, 3rd January 2020Equipment Parade (By members) |
Friday, 5th June 2020MAS 62nd 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 |
4 Apr 2020 Stargazing public event - (White Waltham)
Saturday, 4th April 2020. Stargazing public event at White Waltham airfield
Open to the public from 7 to 11pm (approx), at White Waltham Airfield (SL6 3NJ), home of the West London Aero Club. Talks, telescopes for public observing and star gazing.
There is a licensed bar and the kitchen will be open for chips and light snacks.
This event is still in the planning stage. Check back for more details
The event is free. The desk near the door will sell small items to benefit the Society and there will be a donations bucket.
This note last modified: 11th Oct 2019 16:09.
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)
21 Nov 2019 Central Windsor Scouts (Outreach)
November 21st 2019 - Central Windsor Scouts - Outreach
Report by Andy
The team (Robin, Andy, Steve, Adrian) arrived in good time to set up for the evening and had a short wait whilst the cubs who were using the hall finished up their meeting. We quickly set up the projector and laptops, and Robin and Steve set up telescopes at the back of the room. Cloud and light rain prevented any outdoor viewing.
Our objective for the evening was to help the 14 scouts achieve their Astronomer Activity badges.
After introductions, Robin got the session started with a quick run through the constellations using Stellarium. He then showed several slides highlighting a few of the easier to identify constellations that they could use for their badge requirements.
Adrian then got the scouts on their feet and into a circle to represent the oceans on the surface of the Earth. With Steve holding the 'Moon' nearby, Adrian demonstrated how the gravitational pull of the Moon at opposite sides of the Earth causes the bulges that we see as tides. We then showed how the Sun also influences the tides, and explained why tides get later every day due to the movement of the Moon.
Andy then discussed with the scouts how they could identify artificial satellites. What do they look like? How do we distinguish them from other objects moving across the sky? Andy showed a short video that showed satellites, meteors and aircraft against the night sky and pointed out how they appear differently. He then showed the scouts how they could use heavens-above.com to predict what satellites would be visible on a given night, and to plan an observation.
We then got the scouts into four teams and set them the task of building scale models of the Solar System using the large selection of balls, beads etc. that Steve had brought along. They had to choose objects of the right (relative) size then set them out on the floor in a line at the correct proportional spacing. All the teams managed a reasonable likeness to the Solar System, one team doing a particularly good job.
The evening ended with short talks about telescopes in two groups. Robin and Steve explained the different designs (reflector, refractor and catadioptric) whilst Andy explained the basics of how telescopes work and demonstrated the telescope kit.
At the end of the session, Andy awarded a prize of telescope kits to the winning team in the Solar System exercise.
Despite a slightly late start, we finished on time at 9pm.
This note last modified: 26th Nov 2019 12:35.
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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