NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 26th November
The Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope
Dr. Robert Braun (Jodrell Bank S.K.A. H.Q.)
 
All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

NEXT MEETING

FRIDAY 7th November
The Allan Chapman Lecture:  "Something Interesting!"
Dr Allan Chapman (Oxford University)
 

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

Visit to Daresbury Labs

Today a group from Chester AS visited Daresbury Labs where they enjoyed a lecture on the history and work of the labs, and a tour of some of the facilities, including a trip up the tower, even after the lift broke down!

Many thanks to Daresbury Labs, and those in the society who organised the trip. It was an enjoyable visit.

Below are a number of pictures taken during the visit (with permission).

Programme Changes

The October meeting has been rescheduled to Friday, November 7.

The annual star-party and BBQ will be held on Saturday 18th October.

Details can be found in the 2014 Programme.

Rosetta has arrived.

Stunning close up detail focusing on a smooth region on the ‘base’ of the ‘body’ section of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The image was taken by Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera and downloaded today, 6 August. The image clearly shows a range of features, including boulders, craters and steep cliffs.

The image was taken from a distance of 130 km and the image resolution is 2.4 metres per pixel.

Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

Rosetta arrives today

The ESA space probe Rosetta will rendevous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko today with orbital manoeuvres starting at 10.00 am BST.

Further information can be found here:

BBC
ESA
Rosetta

NEXT MEETING

There is NO MEETING in August.

Wednesday 24th September
Black Swans – Black Holes in the Constellation of Cygnus
Prof Ralph Spencer (Manchester University)
 

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 30th July
Members' Night, with contributions from society members.

There is NO MEETING in August.

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

Visit to Daresbury Laboratories

There will be two visits to Daresbury Laboratories in the coming months. The daytime visit will be on Wednesday 27th August from 1 to 3 pm. The evening visit will be on Wednesday 12th November from 6 to 8 pm.

Both will involve a tour and a talk, but the daytime one will be about the labs and the evening one will be more of a star party.

Please contact the society to book a place.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 25th June

Harold Knox-Shaw and the Helwan Observatory

Dr Jeremy Shears (BAA and Chester AS)

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

Pendulums

Last nights meeting was a change to the advertised programme as speaker Jim Wild was unable to attend, apparantly being up in the Arctic at the time.

Andrew Bate stood in at short notice to give a report on the Waverton Long Pendulum Experiment which he had been conducting at Waverton church making measurements of a 50 foot Foucault Pendulum he had hung there. This proved to be very intersting, and a good example of serious amateur science.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 28th May

Weathering Solar Storms

Prof Jim Wild (Lancaster University)

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 30th April

Adventures in Astronomy Education

Prof Andy Newsam (Liverpool John Moores University)

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 26th March
Forecasting Earth’s Weather from Solar Activity
Piers Corbyn (Weather Action)

All meetings begin at 7.30pm. The full programme can be viewed here.

Special Meeting

We are planning to hold a public meeting during National Astronomy Week.

It will take place on Friday 7th March, in the Burley Hall starting at 7:30 pm. It will take the form of viewing if clear. There will also be a Telescope Surgery for anyone who has acquired a telescope they can't make work or have problems with, plus static presentations by display board and the possibility of active presentations by power-point or other means.

 Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 26th February

Comets and Meteors

Dr Jacco van Loon (Keele University)

John Dobson dies

It is sad to report the death of John Dobson (1915-2014) on Wednesday 15th January. He was a populariser of amateur astronomy, and a promoter of the Newtonian telescope design that now bears his name.

2014 Programme

Meetings are usually held on the last Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm.
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Wednesday 29th January
AGM plus talk on the "Astronomical Events of 2014"
Richard Sargent (Chester AS)

Wednesday 26th February

Comets and Meteors

Dr Jacco van Loon (Keele University)

Wednesday 26th March
Forecasting Earth’s Weather from Solar Activity
Piers Corbyn (Weather Action)
 

Wednesday 30th April

Adventures in Astronomy Education

Prof Andy Newsam (Liverpool John Moores University)

Wednesday 28th May

Weathering Solar Storms

Prof Jim Wild (Lancaster University)

Wednesday 25th June

Harold Knox-Shaw and the Helwan Observatory

Dr Jeremy Shears (BAA and Chester AS)

 

Wednesday 30th July

Members' Night, with contributions from society members.

There is NO MEETING in August.

Wednesday 24th September
Black Swans – Black Holes in the Constellation of Cygnus
Prof Ralph Spencer (Manchester University)

Saturday 18th October 
Annual star-party and BBQ for members and their guests starting at 19:00.  Tea and coffee will be provided but please bring your own food.  A red light torch is a wise accessory.  As usual, children are most welcome but please remember there may be valuable equipment around so please apply parental responsibility.

The venue is:  Hatton Farm, Waverton    CH3 7RE
 

If the sky looks promising and people want to bring instruments, come a bit earlier or ring the Chairman (number on your membership card) to make arrangements.

FRIDAY 7th November

The Allan Chapman Lecture.
Allan's talks always draw much attention and this year he promises to talk about "Something Interesting." 

Dr Allan Chapman (Oxford University)

[The talk was on "Edmund Halley", delivered without any notes or computer aids!]

Wednesday 26th November

The Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope

Dr Robert Braun (Jodrell Bank S.K.A. H.Q.) 

There is NO MEETING in December.

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