All meetings will be presented using ZOOM until further notice |
This page lists our monthly meetings. For other events open to the general public, see our Events page
Dates are set well in advance but the 'content' of the meeting is only updated (from our 'meetings database') when details are entered, so 'blank' or 'TBA' may be shown when data has not yet been entered (please be assured that the meeting will take place and a talk on (some) Subject will be delivered by (some) Speaker ! )
During the COVID-19 restrictions, all meetings are being held on-line using ZOOM. Meetings are normally held at the Church Hall (aka 'The Soltau Center') of St James-the-Less, Stubbings, Maidenhead SL6 6QW, from 7.30 (for a ZOOM link, or map and directions, see the About MAS (Where we meet) page
The Main Topic is usually delivered by an invited guest speaker. We aim to provide a diverse range of subjects linked (in some way) to Astronomy - whilst the 'Second Session' is typically delivered by one of our members. If time allows, the evening concludes with a short 'What to see this month'.
Details of a typical evening (times are approximate) :- 7.30pm. The evening starts with the Chairman delivering any important Announcements and then introducing the main speaker. 7.45pm (latest). Main Topic Speaker gets up and the lights are turned off. If you arrive after 7.45, please enter the Hall by the first door (on the right, after the entrance) and please be extra careful when finding a seat at the back of the Hall as members often setup telescopes there ! 8.45-9pm +. Coffee break during which visitors often chat with members who have set-up their telescopes at the back of the hall. If the weather is good, sometimes members will nip out for a quick look at the sky. Smoking is permitted outside the Hall, however smokers are asked to avoid any 'observers' (smoke particles always seem to get into optical equipment, no matter how well 'sealed' it may be) 9.15pm (at the latest). The 'Second Session' then runs for about 45 mins, typically ending with "What's Up !" (what to look out for in the sky this month) 10pm. We aim to clear the hall by 10pm. Post meeting Observing. If the weather is good, the Observing Organiser then leads the way to our chosen observing site, or (if the weather looks even a slight bit 'iffy) members sneak off to the local Pub instead :-)
Next meeting :
(-) 5 Feb 2021 ZOOM on line meeting - (TBA)
Friday, 5th February 2021 - TBA
(talk yet to be arranged)
All our Meetings are held on-line using ZOOM. Members of the public wishing to take part are invited to use the link found on the 'About and Contact' page
This note last modified: 1st Jan 2021 11:45.
(+) 5 Mar 2021 ZOOM on line meeting - (TBA)
(+) 2 Apr 2021 ZOOM on line meeting - (TBA)
(+) 7 May 2021 ZOOM on line meeting - (TBA)
(+) 4 Jun 2021 ZOOM on line meeting - (TBA)
Meetings Archive |
The meetings archive gives an 'overview' of the Society activities over the past 10 years (see also the Events page).
Members have access to the full 'History of MAS' (including AGM minutes going back to 1957) along with full names and photos
The MAS 'year' runs from September of one year to June of the following. The end of year AGM in June elects the Committee for the following year (there are no meetings in July and August - although often members will meet informally at the local pub - which gives the new Committee time to 'get a grip' on running the Society)
The "short cuts" (in the 'title bar', at the very top of this page) will take you to the June AGM entry for the end of that MAS year
The Maidenhead Astronomical Society meetings archive (last 10 years only)
Missed a meeting, or can't remember when a topic was last covered ? Here is the archive of past MAS meetings.
Note that this list covers only our monthly meetings and AGM's. Reports on Observing and Other Events are separate pages
If notes were taken at the meeting, the date below is underlined and shown with a '(+)' = click to see the notes (if no '(+)' is shown, no notes were taken - or, more likely, the webmaster hasn't found them and posted them up yet :-) )
(-) 8 Jan 2021 The Astronomer's Toolkit - (Dr Lee Anne Willson)
Friday, 8th January 2021 - The Astronomer's Toolkit: How we did it before we had computers" by Dr. Lee Anne Willson
Dr. Lee Anne Willson, speaking via Zoom from America, is a professional astronomer and Professor Emerita of Iowa State University of Science and Technology.
Lee Anne delivered a fun and friendly talk on "The Astronomer's Toolkit: How we did it before we had computers" covering the era of Slide Rules, French Curves and overhead slide projectors all the way up to mechanical calculators, floppy disks and PowerPoint !
Many an old memory was evoked as a number of our members showed off their technology, including the HP-35 scientific programmable (reverse polish) calculator, circular slide rules and, at the end, asking Alexa what a logarithm was !
Video showing how to work a mechanical calculator.
All our Meetings are held on-line using ZOOM. Members of the public wishing to take part are invited to use the link found on the 'About and Contact' page
This note last modified: 8th Jan 2021 21:43.