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Our members are quite flexible and happy to use on-line conferencing systems other than Zoom or Skype, however be aware that most of us are Windows PC based |
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 laser pointer at an outreach event. Children under the age of 18 and non-approved adults are not permitted 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).
Future Public Events |
This page is dedicated to events promoted by Maidenhead Astronomical Society aimed at bringing an awareness and appreciation of astronomy to the general public. Almost all of the Events listed here are run by MAS (the few that are not are plainly marked)
Details of future planned events are limited to those open to the general public (Members should look in the Members Only section for details of future events not open to the public - which includes most of our local Outreach activities (schools, cubs, brownies etc)).
Future events are listed in date order, next planned first. Be aware that events can change (usually due to the weather :-) ) so please check nearer the event before making a journey
Note. MAS holds Public Liability Insurance via our membership of Federation of Astronomical Societies. The Policy Document for 2021 (pdf) is available on request (it can be found in the Members section)
(+) 25 Oct 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse
(+) 7 Mar 2025 (and 22) Major Lunar Standstill
(+) 29 Mar 2025 Partial Solar Eclipse
(+) 12 Aug 2026 Solar Eclipse
(+) 26 Jan 2028 annular Solar Eclipse
(+) 1 Jun 2030 annular Solar Eclipse
(+) 13 Nov 2032 Transit of Mercury
(+) 7 Nov 2039 Transit of Mercury - (2nd of pair)
(+) 28 Jul 2061 Halleys Comet returns
(+) 23 Sep 2090 Total Solar Eclipse - (the next visible from UK)
Reports from our Outreach & Event activity |
Here you will find reports of MAS events held in the last 10 years or so (i.e. since the MAS web site effectively 'took over' from printed newsletters as the primary means of 'reporting back' to the membership). Some details have been removed to allow for public viewing
The Members Only section contains details of MAS History going back to our formation in 1957
(+) 2 Dec 2021 Furze Platt Beavers - (Outreach)
(+) 16 Nov 2021 Cookham Beavers 2 - (Outreach)
(+) 15 Nov 2021 Cookham Beavers - (Outreach)
(+) 8 Nov 2021 Cookham Dean School - (Outreach)
(+) 4 Sep 2021 Cookham Regatta
(+) 12 Aug 2021 Perseids meteor shower - (Ockwells Park outreach)
(+) 10 Jun 2021 Solar Eclipse - (partial from UK)
(+) 4 Mar 2021 1st Maidenhead Sea Scouts - (Outreach)
(+) 27 Jan 2021 (and 28) Bourne End Cubs (Outreach)
(+) 14 Nov 2020 Public Viewing Event - (White Waltham)
(+) 9 Nov 2020 Cookham Dean Primary School (ZOOM Outreach)
(+) 4 Apr 2020 Stargazing public event - (POSTPONED)
(+) 21 Nov 2019 Central Windsor Scouts (Outreach)
(+) 11 Nov 2019 19th Maidenhead Beavers (Outreach)
(+) 11 Nov 2019 Transit of Mercury (2nd of pair)
(+) 4 Nov 2019 Cookham Dean Primary School - (Outreach)
(+) 10 Oct 2019 Holy Trinity School yr3 - (Outreach)
(+) 7 Sep 2019 Cookham Regatta
(+) 29 Aug 2019 Maidenhead Library (Outreach)
(+) 19 Aug 2019 Childrens Reading Challenge Maidenhead Library - (Outreach)
(+) 20 Jul 2019 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing - (Maidenhead Festival)
(+) 4 Apr 2019 Newlands School (Outreach)
(+) 28 Mar 2019 Bourne End Cubs (Outreach)
(+) 14 Mar 2019 Furze Platt Beavers (Outreach)
(-) 24 Feb 2019 Furze Platt cubs (Outreach)
Tuesday, 26th February 2019 - Furze Platt cubs - Outreach
Team: Adrian (lead), Robin, Steve + observers (Alan C, Lesley M) Report by Steve
Due to the excellent weather forecast, the venue was changed from the HQ to the Marion's Meadow camp site. Fortunately Adrian emailed us all a map, otherwise I might not have found it !
By the time I arrived at 6:35, the rest of the Team had already found the field and Robin was even starting to set up. We were going with 'Plan B' (which was the outdoor observing) so I delivered the screen and beamer to the main hut and set up my Dob. near to Robin.
Soon we had about 22 cubs and after a quick introduction at the hut they were divided into 2 groups, one inside for the talks and movies, the others outside.
The cubs had already done the Solar System model part of their badge work, so Adrian, ably assisted by Lesley, demonstrated how the Earth’s inclination and orbit around the Sun causes the seasons. He then quizzed the cubs on the differences between stars and planets.
Robin started outside with a short talk on the Constellations, pointing out how to find North and then the outdoor group was split into two. One section of 6 went to Robins telescope where they saw the Orion Nebula and the other section to mine, where I used a low power eyepiece so they could see almost the entire Pleiades group in the field of view. The sections then swapped over, and then the larger groups swapped so we did the observing and talks at the telescopes 4 times !
At the end of the evening, all the cubs gathered again in the hut for a quick slide show of features that can be seen on the Moon. Adrian and Lesley then attempted to demonstrate the Moon’s phases – which proved difficult in the very small space crowded with excitable cubs!
Meanwhile outside as the parents started to arrive many took the opportunity to have a quick look at what the cubs had been shown. Just before we packed up, Robin switched to point at Mars and a few parents were treated to a view.
We finished up and cleared the site at about 8:15.
This note last modified: 27th Feb 2019 14:38.