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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE !
(Note on General Data Protection Regs. moved here)
MEMBERS click for BAA Membership changes
Members Annual Photo Competition 2025 |
Entries are now open for the 2025 competition (note new email address for entries :- mas.photocomp@gmail.com). 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 WebAdmin
MEMBERS see also MAS LOGO Fleeces
Next Months Meeting |
Friday, 2nd January 2026 Telescope Parade (by members)
Our 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, 5th September 2025A VIP tour of the Houston Space Center (Dr Lilian Hobbs) |
Friday, 6th February 2026When Galaxies Were Born (Professor Richard Ellis) |
Friday, 3rd October 2025Visual Astronomy and the Human Eye (David Hayes (Zoom)) |
Friday, 6th March 2026Ladies of the Night (Ann Bonell (via Zoom)) |
Friday, 7th November 2025Exoplanet Observation (Adrian Jones) |
Friday, 3rd April 2026TBA ( ) |
Friday, 5th December 2025Christmas Quiz (by members) |
Friday, 1st May 2026TBA ( ) |
Friday, 2nd January 2026Telescope Parade (by members) |
Friday, 5th June 2026MAS 69th 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
Next Public Event |
12 Aug 2026 Solar Eclipse
12 Aug 2026, 18:11, total Solar Eclipse (91% visible from UK)
The full (100%) Eclipse will be visible from the North Atlantic and Spain.
This note last modified: 8th Mar 2015 13:35.
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)
26 Nov 2025 Oldfield Primary School - (outreach)
26th November 2025 - Oldfield Primary School (outreach)
MAS Team :- Robin (lead), Adrian D, Adrian J, Arthur and Steve (report)
This was our second visit to the School and another afternoon event. This time we decided to stick to the indoor plan as it was both cold and overcast outside. We would be using the same hall, so again I started to unload my kit against the wall alongside the doors. Robin and Adrian had arrived before me and soon had the doors open.
After signing in we set up. This time it was decided to go with the 'Q and A' solar system - the groups layout just took too long - so I ran the string and quickly realised that it would have to be 'half scale' with all the mental arithmetic that implied. The class teacher was again good enough to supply us with coffee / tea whilst we waited for the students.
Once the 28 students arrived, Robin introduced us and Arian started off with a balloon sun and a box from which the students could 'choose the correct scale earth'. They were then asked to stand at the correct distance from the 'sun' which I held at the end of the hall. Only one managed close to the correct relative size = the Earth is around 109 times smaller than the sun, so compared to a balloon around the size a pin-head. All the students placed their earths within the hall. Adrian strode to the correct position, outside the hall and in the middle of the class room across the corridor !
After explaining that they would be laying out a solar system with a 2.2m sun and 2cm earth and other planets to the same scale. So we would have to 'squeeze' the distances so the fitted in the hall (instead of the edge of the solar system at 4km), I went straight intothe Q&A. The students identified each planet very quickly and we soon had the solar system laid out.
Adrian the delivered talk on differences between stars and planets (starts shine like light bulbs, planets reflect light like a mirror) and then a moon phases and eclipse demonstration whilst Robin held the torch 'sun' and I held the globe earth.
Arthur delivered a talk on the dangers of looking at the sun and a warning that using any sort of binoculars / telescope to look at the sun would blind you !
Robin then used Stellarium to show the night sky, pointing out how to locate North (Polaris) and the circumpolar constellations.
Finally, the pupils where divided into their 'houses' and Robin handed out his meteorite collection. Each of the 4 trays contained 6 or 7 fragments, along with a magnet - allowing metallic to be distinguished from rocky types - and a magnifying glass - allowing the crystal structure to be seen.
We discussed the source of the meteorites, how they were formed and how they were found. This generated many questions which led to the formation of the solar system, demise of the dinosaurs and evolution of humans.
All too soon our time was up and the class departed.
This note last modified: 3rd Dec 2025 14:12.
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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
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