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Random tip: If 'rain prevents play', we are known to drown our sorrows at the local pub !LookingUp logo
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  Members Annual Photo Competition 2022  

Postponed from 2020 due to Covid. Entries are now open for the 2022 competition. 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

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  MEMBERS see MAS LOGO Fleeces  

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  Next Months Meeting  


  Friday, 31st March 2023    Overview of telescopes and mounts    (Dave Hayes)  

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 :-) )

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  This seasons meetings  


(download printable guide PDF )

  Friday, 2nd September 2022

  InfraRed Astronomy   (Dr Eric Dunford)  

  Friday, 3rd February 2023

  The Galaxy without a dark side   (Barry Kellett)  

  Friday, 7th October 2022

  The Lunar 100   (Dr Lilian Hobbs)  

  Friday, 3rd March 2023

  Study of our Galaxy in the Era of Gaia   (James Binney)  

  Friday, 4th November 2022

  Exploration of Jupiter   (Dr Mike Legett)  

  Friday, 31st March 2023

  Overview of telescopes and mounts   (Dave Hayes)  

  Friday, 2nd December 2022

  Xmas Social Photo Comp and Quiz   (set by members)  

  Friday, 5th May 2023

  Pioneers of Spectroscopy   (Jack Martin)  

  Friday, 6th January 2023

  Telescope Parade and Workshop   (by members)  

  Friday, 2nd June 2023

  MAS 66th AGM   (Annual General Meeting)  

(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

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  Next Public Event  


7 Mar 2025 (and 22) Major Lunar Standstill

March 7 & 22, 2025 A 'Major Lunar Standstill' is when the range of the declination of the Moon reaches a maximum (of almost 60 degrees). As a result, at high latitudes, the Moon's greatest altitude (at culmination, when it crosses the meridian) changes in just two weeks from high in the sky to low over the horizon. They occur every 18.6 years as a consequence of the (18.6 year) period in the precession of the Moon's orbital nodes. Note also that the greatest extremes always occur near the equinoxes. The last was in 2006, the next in 2025, here's a few more dates (Dec = declanation, as in RA/Dec) :- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) Year          Minimum        Dec (°)         Maximum      Dec (°) 2006        Mar 22  16:53   -28.725       Sep 15  01:28    28.725 2025        Mar 22  06:47   -28.719       Mar  7  15:56    28.710 2043        Sep 12  11:52   -28.703       Sep 25  14:42    28.712 2062        Mar 31  23:35   -28.700       Mar 18  10:23    28.705 2080        Sep 21  02:33   -28.695       Oct  5  09:52    28.682 2099        Sep 21  11:16   -28.686       Mar 29  02:46    28.678
For more information, see Wikipedia, Lunar standstill and U.Mass. Sunwheel
This note last modified: 11th Apr 2016 17:06.
See our Events page for more information about all our Events
Click here for MAS Facebook page
Photo: Members of MAS gather to observe the transit of Mercury
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 !!!

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  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)

18 Mar 2023 Highfield Prep School Look to the Stars - (Public Event)

18th March 2023, Saturday - Highfield Prep School (SL6 1PD) - Look to the Stars (Public Event) A (chargeable) public event hosted by Highfield Prep School.
Photo: ../Outreach_&_Events/photos/2023-03-18_HighfieldPrepSchool-QR.jpg
Saturday 18th March, 6pm - 9pm. Highfield Prep School, 2 West Rd. Maidenhead SL6 1PD. Tickets £8

Note. For booking visit look-to-the-stars.eventbrite.co.uk - or use the QR barcode, right (click on the image will open the full size version)

Photo: ../Outreach_&_Events/photos/2023-03-18_HighfieldPrepSchool-poster.jpg


This note last modified: 13th Feb 2023 18:26.

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  Twitter  

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 @MaidenheadAstro

If the fancy Twitter button doesn't appear above, you can exit to Twitter using this old fashioned URL link :-)

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  Facebook  

We now have our own Facebook page !

exit to: Maidenhead Astronomical Society on Facebook

Maidenhead Astronomical Society

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  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).

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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 !

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Benefactors and Supporters

Maidenhead Lions, Platinum Award (2022, celebrating the Queen's 70 years on the throne)
O2 goto our O2 award report page
Baylis Trust Cash-for-the-community
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

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