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)
29th August 2019 - Maidenhead Library Outreach
Present: Robin and Andy (report by Andy)
Following our success with the Apollo 50 event, for this summer’s reading challenge, at Maidenhead Library on August 19th, we arranged to return to do a session about telescopes. The team consisted of Robin and Andy and the aim was to do a brief and simple introduction on how telescopes work and then for the youngsters to build their own instrument.
One very young participant and their parent had been at the session on the 19th August. Since then Robin had been able to help the family setting up their telescope and they are seriously thinking about coming along to one of the Society’s monthly meetings.
The Team arrived early to set up the society’s 10-inch Celestron reflector, a PowerPoint on the huge television screen and Robin’s brass refractor from the 1860’s, that belonged to his Grandfather. Andy started off with a warning they should never look at the Sun and especially not through their telescope once it had been built. Robin gave a brief overview as to how a refracting telescope works followed by Andy on the basics for a reflector. A few tips about the best way to assemble the telescopes and then we gave them their cardboard kits and they started building. The kits were purchased on-line by the library, from AstroMedia Shop, and each participant paid a small fee to the library, to cover the cost.
One or two small issues arose about using the glue, all of these concerned using too much despite written and verbal warnings, but all participants were soon making good progress. Not surprisingly the younger attendees made the best progress as they had a parent with them to offer constant assistance. Andy and Robin helped the older children.
Everyone completed their telescope and were able to use them to observe flowers, signposts, windows and bricks across the road from the library.
This note last modified: 1st Sep 2019 15:44.