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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE !

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UPDATED ... 12th Aug (weds) - Partial Solar Eclipse (90%)

The next Solar Eclipse will be visible from UK, from 6.17pm onwards. Here in Maidenhead, we will see around 90% coverage. MAS will be setting up to observe from the corner of Pinkneys Common at the junction of Pinkneys Drive and A308 Furze Platt Rd. .All are welcome. A limited number of Eclipse Glasses will be available to borrow on a first come basis.

First contact is 6:17pm, maximum 7:13pm (around 90%), last contact 8:06pm (by which time the sun will likely be below the horizon tree line). For MAS observing on Pinkneys Common, see map below (you may have to 'refresh' this page to display the map).

Pinkneys Common - MAS Eclipse observing area 'A' (top). The small Car Park (B, centre) should be left for disabled & MAS members with equipment. We have permission to use the Cricket Club car park, Pinkneys Green (C, bottom left), where visitors may park. NOTE that the Cricket Club have promised to open up their bar !

(Note on General Data Protection Regs. moved here)

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  MEMBERS click for BAA Membership changes  

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Entries are now open for the 2026 competition (note new email address for entries :- mas.photocomp@gmail.com). You have to be a member to enter. Further details on the Photo Competition page and in the Members section. If you have problems logging in, contact the Membership Sec. or WebAdmin

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  MEMBERS see also MAS LOGO Fleeces  

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  Saturday, 5th September 2026    pioneers of spectroscopy    (Mr)  

Our meetings run from 7.30 to 10pm in the Church Hall, St James-the-Less, Stubbings, Maidenhead, SL6 6QW (for directions, see our About & Contact page)

Meetings are normally on the first Friday of the month, September to June. There are no indoor meetings in July or August (unless indicated)

Beginners and visitors are always welcome at our indoor meetings (you don't have to join, however a £2 contribution toward the costs of the hall hire would be most welcome !)

To contact the society between meetings, please complete the on-line General Enquiry form

If you would like to receive, by email, advanced notification of our free public events, or you would like further information about the Society please use the Enquiry form mentioned above - or just turn up at any meeting and speak to any member of the Committee.

We also have a page on the Maidenhead Arts Council web site (where you will find details of other local clubs and societies if, for some inexplicable reason, Astronomy fails to fire your imagination and seize your interest :-) )

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(Table: http://www.maidenhead-astro.net/public/Home/index#2_bm)  

Members :- Please log-in to the Members Only section for details of our next members only Event

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12 Aug 2026 Solar Eclipse (90% partial)

Pinkneys Greeen - Eclipse observing area 'A' (top). The small Car Park (B, center) should be left for disabled & MAS members with equipment. We have permission to use the larger Cricket Club car park (C, bottom left), where visitors may park. NOTE that the Cricket Club have promised to open up their bar !

See our Events page for more information about all our Events

Click here for MAS Facebook page

Monday, 9 May 2016: Transit of Mercury, members of MAS gathered in Ockwells Park to show the Transit to the public. For more details, see report on Events page

WARNING: never look at the Sun through a normal telescope !!
Doing so, WILL BLIND YOU !!!

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Details of all our planned and past activities can be found on the Events pages.
Note that Outreach events are not usually open to the public, so are reported here only AFTER the event (Members can see planned Outreach dates in the Members Only section, Activity planning pages)

12 Aug 2026 Solar Eclipse (90% partial)

Pinkneys Greeen - Eclipse observing area 'A' (top). The small Car Park (B, center) should be left for disabled & MAS members with equipment. We have permission to use the larger Cricket Club car park (C, bottom left), where visitors may park. NOTE that the Cricket Club have promised to open up their bar !

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For the latest news, follow us on Twitter (javascript must be enabled for the 'button' below to work). Our latest Twitter postings can also be seen on the Observing page

If the fancy Twitter button doesn't appear above, you can exit to Twitter using this old fashioned URL link :-)

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We now have our own Facebook page !

exit to: Maidenhead Astronomical Society on Facebook

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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 pointer at an outreach event. Children under the age of 18 and non-approved adults are not be allowed 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).

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Links

Robotic Telescopes (MAS Links page)
Where we meet (MAS About page)
'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ, MAS Beginners page)
exit to: Maidenhead Arts Council (MADAC) MAS web page
exit to: Tim's list of Asteroid Occultation observation opportunities
exit to: European Asteroidal Occultation Network
exit to: Space Weather
exit to: Heavens-Above - times of everything passing overhead, especially ISS, satellites and Iridium flares
exit to: The Astronomer on-line - magazine for the advanced amateur
exit to: BAA (British Astronomical Association)
exit to: SPA (Society for Popular Astronomy) - especially suitable for younger stargazers !

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Benefactors and Supporters

Maidenhead Lions, Platinum Award (2022, celebrating the Queen's 70 years on the throne)
O2 goto our O2 award report page
Baylis Trust Cash-for-the-community
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (Lottery Grant)
RBWM-Education Directorate
Mr B.Smith of Shottesbrooke
Mrs P.Haymes
The Telegraph newspaper
exit to Oregon Scientific
exit to Telescope house

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