All Outreach and Events suspended due to Covid 19 |
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. Our Policy Document for 2019-20 is available as a PDF download here
(+) 14 Nov 2020 Public Viewing Event - (White Waltham)
(+) 10 Jun 2021 Solar Eclipse - (partial from UK)
(+) 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
(+) 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)
Thursday, 28th March 2019 - Bourne End Cubs (Outreach)
Team: Andy (lead), Robin, Steve report by Steve
This one almost didn't happen as the Cubs were flexible enough to ask for 'any Thursday', but as each possible date approached we were unable to get the Team together. As British Summer Time approached (Sunday 2am, 31 March) it looked as if we would have to tell them 'sorry', but then Andy 'volunteered' to take the lead !
This was a 6pm setup for 6:30 start and we would run through to about 8pm. Despite my confusion over the postcode, Andy corrected me in time and my SatNav did the job, taking me straight to the Hall.
Robin and I setup our telescopes in the small grassed area at the back as some 24 cubs arrived.
After 3 new Cubs were welcomed to the "best cub pack in the area", it was over to us. Robin retired to the outdoor area to finish setting up whilst Andy started the show.
The focus was on the Cubs Astronomy Badge work, so Andy started with the identification of 3 constellations, Orion, the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. He explained how to find the North star and that Betelgeuse, a massive red giant, would soon go nova. Then he gave them all a written Quiz ! This consisted of a 'join the dots' to find the constellations, which all the Cubs did without difficulty.
Then it was my turn to layout the model Solar System. Since we wanted to get onto the practical observing as fast as possible, I skipped the usual Quiz and just did a running talk with Q and A's as the planets were laid out.
By then is was dark enough, and, with the security lights off, we were soon all outside with Robin pointing out the constellations mentioned by Andy 'for real'. Robin looked at the Orion Nebula with his 80mm refractor. Towards the end we were playing hide and seek with the trees in the way, but most people saw the three "sword stars". I focused on Betelgeuse and soon had a queue of eager observers, many of whom were able to see it's red colour.
At about 7:10pm, a bright satellite passed overhead. After some discussion, I felt it was so bright that it had to be the International Space Station. When I got home, and looked it up on the Heavens Above web page, I was amazed to discover I was right !
ISS Visible pass, 29 March, mag -3.8. Start 19:06:13, direction 10° WSW, end 19:12:51, direction 10° E.
Before we knew it, time was up, however a number of parents couldn't resist coming out for a quick look through the telescopes.
This note last modified: 2nd Apr 2019 19:46.