We are back at our normal venue from 3rd Sept. 2021 |
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 :
(+) 7 Jun 2024 MAS 67th AGM - (Annual General Meeting)
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 :-) )
(+) 3 May 2024 The Exploration of Venus - (Jim House)
(+) 5 Apr 2024 The Visible Universe - (Doctor Max Whitby)
(+) 1 Mar 2024 Water in the Universe - (Prof Jonathan Tennyson)
(+) 2 Feb 2024 The Mechanics of Eclipses - (Sheridan Williams FRAS)
(+) 5 Jan 2024 Telescope Parade - (and the Parker Solar Probe by Arthur White)
(+) 1 Dec 2023 SPECIAL FEATURE Herschels Lunatick Friends - (Andrew Lound)
(+) 3 Nov 2023 Binary Pulsars Einsteins Perfect Laboratories - (Barry Kellett)
(+) 6 Oct 2023 Solar Space Weather SOHO - (Dr Eric Dunford)
(+) 1 Sep 2023 The Changing Climate of Mars - (Peter Read)
(+) 2 Jun 2023 MAS 66th AGM - (Annual General Meeting)
(+) 5 May 2023 Two talks by members - (LATE CHANGE)
(+) 31 Mar 2023 Overview of telescopes and mounts - (Dave Hayes)
(+) 3 Mar 2023 Study of our Galaxy in the Era of Gaia - (James Binney)
(+) 3 Feb 2023 The Galaxy without a dark side - (Barry Kellett)
(+) 6 Jan 2023 Telescope Parade and Workshop - (by members)
(+) 2 Dec 2022 Xmas Social Photo Comp and Quiz - (set by members)
(+) 4 Nov 2022 Exploration of Jupiter - (Dr Mike Legett)
(+) 7 Oct 2022 The Lunar 100 - (Dr Lilian Hobbs)
(+) 2 Sep 2022 InfraRed Astronomy - (Dr Eric Dunford)
(+) 10 Jun 2022 MAS 65th AGM - (NOTE 2nd Friday)
(+) 6 May 2022 Gravitational Waves - (Joshua Pooley)
(+) 1 Apr 2022 Saturn - (Michael Foulkes)
(+) 4 Mar 2022 Update on the Exploration of Mars - (Jim House)
(+) 4 Feb 2022 What Astronomy Tells Us About The Origins of Life On Earth ? - (James Hough)
(+) 7 Jan 2022 Telescope Parade and Workshop - (by Members)
(+) 3 Dec 2021 Christmas Quiz set by members - (followed by Social Evening)
(+) 5 Nov 2021 CANCELLED - (Hall closed)
(+) 1 Oct 2021 Dark Nebulae - (Owen Brazell)
(+) 3 Sep 2021 How we reached the Moon - (Jerry Stone)
(+) 4 Jun 2021 63rd AGM (ZOOM on line meeting)
(+) 7 May 2021 Milestones in Astronomy - (Rod Hine (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 2 Apr 2021 The Red Sun - (Lyn Smith (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 5 Mar 2021 Tour of the Universe - (Jane Green (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 5 Feb 2021 Space Vehicles - (Graham Bryant (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 8 Jan 2021 The Astronomer's Toolkit - (Dr Lee Anne Willson (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 4 Dec 2020 Xmas Quiz - (set by members (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 6 Nov 2020 The Monster in the Crab - (Gary Poyner (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 2 Oct 2020 Is there anyone out there ? - (Bob Mizon (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 4 Sep 2020 Two eyes are better than one - (Stephen Tonkin (ZOOM on line meeting))
(+) 5 Jun 2020 COVID19 Postponed MAS 62nd AGM
(+) 1 May 2020 COVID19 Postponed The Monster in the Crab - (Gary Poyner)
(+) 3 Apr 2020 COVID19 meeting CANCELLED
(+) 6 Mar 2020 Recent Developments in Gravity Wave Research - (Martin Dyer)
(+) 7 Feb 2020 Ask an expert Q and A panel - (By Members)
(+) 3 Jan 2020 Equipment Parade - (By members)
(+) 6 Dec 2019 Xmas Quiz and social - (By members)
(+) 1 Nov 2019 The Origin of the Solar System - (James Fradgley)
(+) 4 Oct 2019 Kew Observatory and the origins of modern solar physics - (Dr Lee Macdonald)
(+) 6 Sep 2019 History of Mars Exploration - (Jim House)
(+) Aug 2019 Summer break - (no meeting)
(+) Jul 2019 Summer break - (no meeting)
(+) 7 Jun 2019 MAS 61st AGM - (and Photo Competition prizes)
(+) 3 May 2019 13 Journeys in Space and Time - (Colin Stuart)
(+) 5 Apr 2019 Space Weather - (Dr Colin Forsyth)
(+) 1 Mar 2019 The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) - (Dr Aprajita Verma)
(+) 1 Feb 2019 Ask the Expert - (members panel)
(+) 4 Jan 2019 Equipment exhibition - (and EGM)
(+) 7 Dec 2018 Christmas Quiz and Social
(+) 2 Nov 2018 Short talks - (by members)
(+) 5 Oct 2018 The Future is out of this World - ( Dr Stuart Eves FRAS)
(+) 7 Sep 2018 13 Journeys through space and Time - (Postponed new date TBA)
(+) Aug 2018 Summer break - (no meeting)
(+) Jul 2018 Summer break - (no meeting)
(+) 1 Jun 2018 MAS 61st AGM - (and Photo Competition prizes)
(+) 4 May 2018 Using Video and an Aurora Encounter - (by members)
(+) 6 Apr 2018 Berkshire Astronomers - (Kenelm England FRAS)
(+) 16 Mar 2018 NEW DATE Jupiter and the Juno Mission - (Dr John Rogers)
(+) 2 Feb 2018 Talks by Members
(+) 5 Jan 2018 Telescope and Equipment workshop - (Q and A with members)
(+) 1 Dec 2017 Xmas Quiz and Social - (Quiz Master Tim H)
(+) 3 Nov 2017 Wonders of the Deep Sky - (Callum Potter)
(+) 6 Oct 2017 Observing the Sun - (by MAS members)
(+) 1 Sep 2017 Gravity Waves - (a recap by Martin Dyer)
(+) 2 Jun 2017 MAS 60th AGM - (and Photo Competition prizes)
(+) 5 May 2017 Novae - (Jim H)
(+) 7 Apr 2017 Comets - (Kenelm England)
(+) 3 Mar 2017 Pseudoastronomy - (Stephen Tonkin)
(+) 3 Feb 2017 Members short stories
(+) 6 Jan 2017 Telescope Parade - (exhibition by members)
(+) 9 Dec 2016 (note 2nd Friday) Christmas Quiz - (and members shorts)
(+) 4 Nov 2016 Observing Planetary Nebulae - (Owen Brazell)
(+) 7 Oct 2016 Astro tourism - (David Phillips)
(+) 2 Sep 2016 Rosetta Space Mission - (Andrew Morse)
(+) 3 Jun 2016 MAS 59th AGM - (and Photo competition results)
(+) 6 May 2016 Build a recording spectrometer John Paraskeva - (2nd half Spectrometer results Alun Halsey)
(+) 1 Apr 2016 The Universe in multiple wavelengths - (2nd half Gravity Waves)
(+) 4 Mar 2016 Astronomy and the Weather - (Robin Oldman)
(+) 5 Feb 2016 Sungrazing Comets - (Kenelm England FRAS)
(+) 8 Jan 2016 (note 8th as 1st is New Year) Practical Astrophotography - (and Telescope Parade)
(+) 11 Dec 2015 Xmas Quiz and members shorts - (NOTE DATE CHANGE)
(+) 6 Nov 2015 The Big Bang Theory - (Kevin Pretorius)
(+) 2 Oct 2015 Starting Astrophotography - (short talks by members)
(+) 4 Sep 2015 Basketballs and Beyond - (Jane Green)
(+) 5 Jun 2015 agm
(-) 8 May 2015 (NOTE 2nd Friday) Talks by Members
8th May 2015 (2nd Friday, avoids May 1st Bank Holiday) - Talks by various members
Steve B started with an overview of the Web site, especially the recently relaunched Members pages, most of which are now 'up and running'. With a focus on the History of MAS pages we discovered one unexpected 'old boy' in the audience who confessed that 'he was the youth in shorts' who appears in a group photo taken during a Society visit to Greenwich in mid 1961 (members can find that photo here)
Steve finished with an appeal for copies of any old (1957-2009) photos members might have taken during Society events, so these can be added to our History pages and not be lost (or disappear into 'the cloud', the eventual grave of all material posted to 'social media' sites)
Tim H took the stage next, starting with some slides explaining how to keep an 'Astro Observers Log' = a physical paper notebook which will survive any amount of power cuts and computer disk crashes. To illustrate the point, he showed a 2" loose leaf binder filled with notes from his own observing dating back to the 1970's (or ?). He concluded this part of his talk by recommending an 'observing note book' he had already prepared to the current user of the Society Telescope.
Ed. The 1970-80's saw the introduction of the first computers, with files stored on 8" floppy disks (1971), 5 1/4" floppy (from 1977, introduced with the Apple ][ ) and 3.5" (1983). I wonder who can still access any of the files written on computers of those days and 'saved' to floppy disk ? (and who even remembers the 3" floppy disk used by the Amstrad PCW, the first affordable Word Processor, introduced in 1986 ?)
Tim then continued his session with a look at the Galaxy Cluster Abell 1185, Arp 150 the "Guitar" and Ambartsumians-knot, a deep sky object found in Ursa Major approx 430MLY away. George Abell (1927-1983) was an American astronomer who examined the photographic plates from the Palomar Sky Survey of the 1950s. He identified areas where galaxies clustered together, and, in 1958 published a list of over 4,000 galaxy clusters. He added another 1,000 clusters (visible from the southern hemisphere) later. Abell's catalog is still in use with astronomers today. Tim imaged this region (photo right) with his 30cm telescope (10 x 2min stacked exposures with his ATIK 314L+ camera). Ed. Tim's original has been rotated and cropped to better 'match' this reference image taken with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, a 3.6 meter optical/infrared instrumentAlun H then treated us to a video sequences of his best images set to music ! We were particularly impressed with his movie clips of the Sun, especially the Solar Mass Ejection sequences taken in Hydrogen Alpha light using his (SolarMax ?) scope. The music used was 'This is the Doctor' (from "Dr Who at the Prom's", if I am not mistaken). Until the Members Gallery photos are restored to the website, Alun's photos can be found on Flickr.
Hopefully, Members will be able to find his video on the Members only pages in due course
Ed. Alun H was perhaps inspired by 'Kingsleys Cosmos' by one of our past members, Bruce K, which can be seen on YouTube.
Percy K was next up with some slides extolling the virtues of small telescopes for "Convenient Observing" (the title of his talk). He made the point that you don't need a 'mega telescope', especially not when observing 'in the field' where portability becomes even more important. A 70-80mm refractor is all you need to see the planets (except Uranus) and all the Messier objects (see here) a list of 110 'non-comet' catalogued by Charles Messier in 1758 () - the real enthusiast might like to try for all 110 in one night, an attempt known as a Messier Marathon Ed. the best chance to see all 110 in one night from UK is apparently during the March new Moon each year, so we have missed it for 2015, although Percy might want to start planning now for 2016 !
All observing works best if you have a solid tripod. Whilst many guided and 'goto' tripods cost more than the actual telescope mounted on them, all you need is a firm Alt-Az ('camera' style tripod) that won't move around too much in the wind and need cost no more than £100 (some very good ones can be had 2nd hand in the £90 region). Percy demonstrated this with one of his own (which dwarfed the telescope mounted on it !)
In addition to a small telescope and various eyepieces (Tip - use a small child's sock to keep each eyepiece dry and avoid unwieldy plastic cases) Percy also recommends the use of filters to reduce the 'glare' from the Moon and bright stars when trying to view their faint companions (such as Sirius B, the Dog Star's 'pup'). Coloured filters can also help to enhance the 'contrast' of features on the Moon (which is one reason why a dark Green filter is typically used), Saturn and Jupiter (for more on Filters, see our Beginners and FAQ guide).
A mention was made of low powered binoculars, with their consequent wide fields of view which are becoming popular as simple 'aids to naked eye object observing', although most of us will have to wait for a "Chinese copy" of the astronomically priced href"http://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-binoculars/vixen-sg21x42-widefield-binoculars.html">Vixen 2.1x42 before we can try them out)
After the break
Robin O delivered his now traditional 'Whats Up' guide to the coming months best observing objects along with a 'constellation of the month'. The full Moon was on 4th May so the last quarter will be on the 11th. The new Moon is best observed in Taurus from the 18th.
Mercury is now very well placed, some 20 degrees above the horizon (max was on the 7th) and easily found looking due West from Winter Hill at sunset.
Jupiter is also well positioned (found between Leo and Cancer) with Saturn starting to rise in Libra from 8pm.
Comet Lovejoy is nearing Polaris but is now a binocular / telescope object only.
Robins "Constellation the month" was Bootes (very easy to locate as it's bright central star Arcturus is the first bright star you see by following the 'handle' of Ursa major 'downward and to the left'). The Stellarium script (especially slowed down upon request) can be found here (NOTE this is best viewed with Stellarium 12.4, not later). Just to show that even the most experienced
can be 'tripped up', when Robin expressed his frustration at the sky rotation produced by the Stellarium 'script' when jumping 'day at a time' to follow the path of comet Lovejoy, Tim noted that the time-line was jumping in Solar day steps (rather the Sidereal days :-) ) = so Stellarium was correct after all !
This note last modified: 11th Jun 2019 09:21.