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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE
COVID-19 UPDATE. Physical meetings will restart on 3rd September 2021
(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, 5th November 2021 What astronomy can tell us about the origins of life on Earth (James Hough)
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 2021What astronomy can tell us about the origins of life on Earth (James Hough) |
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)
4 Sep 2021 Cookham Regatta
Saturday September 4th 2021- Cookham Regatta 2021
Present: Adrian, Andy, Robin and Steve (report by Steve)
With a weather forecast of cloudy with some sun, with more sun in the afternoon, we all had high hopes of a good day showing off our Solarscope and telescopes used in solar projection mode.
I arrived around 9 am to find the rest of the team already arrived and setup the gazebo. We had, I felt, a prime position opposite the food vans and the PIMMS tent. After a quick unload of the publicity boards and the rest of my kit, I took the car back to park in the main field.
All the telescopes were set up to point at the sun, which was mostly hidden behind the clouds. Robin reported 2 sunspots so everything was looking good.The public started to arrive soon after 10 am, however by then the promise of more sun had evaporated. The entire day was overcast with little more than a few miniutes of a faint disk behind slightly less dense cloud.
Even so, many members of the public dropped by to discuss how telescopes worked and ask about our meetings.
We had hardly got started when Andy's rowing club begged for his assistance as their Dragon Boat team were two paddlers short. Robin immediately volunteered to help as well, so off the two went. They must have really inspired the team as they won their first race (warning 800Mb file !), however after this they could only manage a close second.
During the afternoon, Sid? turned up to help. At least two other members of MAS, including Jim dropped in for a chat.
The day ended around 5pm with no sign of the sun at all.
This note last modified: 5th Sep 2021 07:16.
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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