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! WELCOME TO THE MAS WEB SITE !
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)
MEMBERS click for BAA Membership changes
Members Annual Photo Competition 2026 |
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
MEMBERS see also MAS LOGO Fleeces
Next Months Meeting |
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 :-) )
This seasons meetings |
(download printable guide PDF )
Saturday, 5th September 2026pioneers of spectroscopy (Mr. Jack Martin (via Zoom)) |
Friday, 5th February 2027NotFound (TBA) |
Friday, 2nd October 2026Wish you Were Here (for Astronomers) (Dr. Lilian Hobbs ) |
Friday, 5th March 2027Radiation Protection and Space Weather (Dr. Elizabeth Cunningham) |
Friday, 6th November 2026NotFound (TBA) |
Friday, 2nd April 2027NotFound (TBA) |
Friday, 4th December 2026Christmas Quiz (Tony Taylor) |
Friday, 7th May 2027NotFound (TBA) |
Friday, 1st January 2027NotFound (TBA) |
Friday, 4th June 2027NotFound (TBA) |
(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
Next Public Event |
12 Aug 2026 Solar Eclipse (90% partial)
12 Aug 2026, 18:11, Solar Eclipse (90%** visible from Maidenhead)
The next Solar Eclipse visible from UK, from 6.17pm onwards, ending as the sun sets. 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 Furze Platt Rd. (see below map). All are welcome.
A limited number of Eclipse Glasses will be available to borrow on a first come basis.
MAS members will be setting up from 5:30pm. Eclipse starts ('first contact') at 6:17pm. Maximum (90%) is reached at 7:13pm. Last contact 8:06pm (however the sun will likely be below the horizon / tree line by then)
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 !
This note last modified: 11th Aug 2026 19:29.
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 !!!
Most recent Event Report |
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)
12 Aug 2026, 18:11, Solar Eclipse (90%** visible from Maidenhead)
The next Solar Eclipse visible from UK, from 6.17pm onwards, ending as the sun sets. 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 Furze Platt Rd. (see below map). All are welcome.
A limited number of Eclipse Glasses will be available to borrow on a first come basis.
MAS members will be setting up from 5:30pm. Eclipse starts ('first contact') at 6:17pm. Maximum (90%) is reached at 7:13pm. Last contact 8:06pm (however the sun will likely be below the horizon / tree line by then)
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 !
This note last modified: 11th Aug 2026 19:29.
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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
Follow @MaidenheadAstroIf 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
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 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).
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 !
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