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Welcome to Newsletter No. 23.
A lot has happened in the past 6 months, since Newsletter 22, so there’s a lot to catch up on. Sorry for the delay getting to No. 23, but I’ve been rather busy with work and stuff. Ed
SOCIETY NEWS
The past 6 months has been a lot of activity in the Society.
Here is just a highlight of what we’ve done:
Public Lectures the Society has welcomed quite a range of outside speakers since November:
1) Martin Dawson came from York Astronomical Society, to talk about ‘Spaceflight’. In particular he presented some of the less well known facts about the goings on, in the American and Russian ‘camps’ during the Cold War periods, where sometimes certain facts were not given to the public about what was going on, essentially behind closed doors.
Martin’s style of presentation was a bit easier going than some speakers we have had, but it made for a very enjoyable talk and there was plenty of entertainment as well as hard facts. He also treated us to some ‘videos’ of various tests on equipment not necessarily part of the Space program, but it made for an entertaining evening.
2) Professor Martin McCoustra came from Herriot-Watt University to talk about the ‘chemistry’ of dusty grains the stuff left over after a Star or Solar System has been formed. It is fair to say that some or many of the audience found his talk a bit hard going (sorry!) but even so there was enough interest to try for another talk in the 2007-8 program (this time to be given by Dr McCombie from Nottingham University in March 2008).
3) On the 5th January 2007 Dr Phil James came from Liverpool John Moores University to talk about ‘miss-placed Supernovae’. These are stars that have been discovered during surveys of external galaxies that appear to not follow the standard pattern of previously observed supernovae. This has now resulted in the identification of (at least) one new class of Supernova progenitor stars and we met up with him again at Merseyside Astronomy Day 2007 (more of which later).
4) 2nd February 2007 saw the invitation of Dr Liane Benning, from Leeds University. Dr Benning is by ‘trade’ a geologist/biologist who does research (in the ‘polar regions’ on Earth) into the viability of micro-organisms in ‘extreme’ environments. This is in preparation for the Amase robotic mission to Mars in 2011/2012, which will deliver a small science package no bigger than a ‘snap tin’ whose aim is to determine of there are so called ‘extremophiles’ in the Martian soil (or under it for that matter). Dr Benning’s talk touched on many branches of science/astronomy and was a really good introduction to this developing area of cross-collaborational science.
5) Finally on March 2nd, David Rattledge from Bolton returned to HAPS to give a talk about ‘new advances in digital Astrophotography’. Showing some of the new equipment and processing techniques that someone with a bit of knowledge and equipment can take quite decent images of celestial objects of all types.
A number of ‘new’ members have given talks, in the Clubroom, over the past few months. Paul Cook has ventured into a presentation on the life of Johannes Kepler as well as hosting two ‘Book reviews’. The book reviews centred around two fairly well known books published by well known authors (for example Carl Sagan). In this example, Sagan’s book attempts to explain the complexities of the Universe boiled down to some simple fundamental processes, which he does quite well.
His second review was of a book by Richard Dawkins. Richard Dawkins is a very eminent scientist who does a great deal to popularise science very much in the ‘Steven Hawking’ mould.
However, Dawkins has some quite definitive views, about what his is own personal philosophy on the origins of ‘Man’ and he isn’t, as you will find out when you read his books, afraid of laying down his views quite thick whilst in the same argument lambasting alternative views, even those of established religions such as Christianity and Islam.
So, be warned if you read his books be prepared to have viewed completely at odds with Dawkins, but perhaps that is his purpose to stimulate debate and not blindly go along with some long established doctrines.
The Autumn Astro-imaging competition was won by Mel for his beautifully designed home observatory based around a garden shed.
As some of you may be aware Mel has been looking to change things around to make it easier for him to observe no doubt Mel will keep us posted on developments.
Marcus hosted a few of his ‘debates’ in the clubroom again these proved a popular event with a number of people coming along and contributing to the discussion more are planned in the 2007-8 program of events.
The 2007 Christmas Dinner was held at the Sands House, again, this year. We were again treated to another great menu and everyone went away stuffed sorry there aren’t any pictures this time!
Science Week this year consisted of two talks and a visit to Crow Nest Park at the invitation of Dewsbury Museum.
Even more effort had been put in by the British Association, to get publicity in place for this years activities and there were even more events in place this year.
However, there were no visitors to the Clubroom events and we were thankful for some reasonably good weather in Dewsbury, that we had a few visitors that passed by our ‘pitch’ where we had a Coronado Telescope, to view the Sun.
The dates for NSW 2008 are 8th to 16th March 2008, which includes a Public lecture by Dr June McCombie, from Nottingham University, plus an Observatory Open Week.
The HAPS Websites
I’m sure that many of you are missing the updates from the .org website. As some of you may know, the website has been ‘off-line’ for quite some time, as a result of a number of problems.
At the time of writing (early-May), I am hopeful that these problems can be resolved in the near future and that the website will be updated in the next month or so.
This does depend on a number of factors so please be patient. If you want some reasonably up-to-the-minute news look on the alternative website
http://uk.geocities.com/huddersfieldastro
Recent issues
A few weeks ago, a Society member raised the issue that, in his and other people’s opinions, the Clubroom was in need of a ‘revamp’.
This was discussed at a recent Committee Meeting and, the Committee decided to apply for some funding, from the Cuckoo’s Nest Charity Shop and elsewhere, for funds to buy materials, fixtures and fittings, to smarten things up.
If you have an opinion on this or you would like to help out with the refurbishments (likely to start later this year), please let me know.
If you have items that you would be prepared to donate to help us out, then, again, please get in touch all assistance will be gratefully received.
Another issue that is tied up with this is membership. Paul has been giving information to the Committee about a gradual ‘decline’ in membership.Because of the way this is accounted, if a members membership lapses (i.e. is not paid 12 months after renewal) the membership numbers loose one. As a consequence this has meant that membership has ‘dropped’ 10% last year as a result of people not paying on time.
So, and I know that everyone has many other things to do with their life, please pay your membership on-time thanks.
What do you get for your membership?
Well this is just some of the benefits:
1) Use of the Observatory without payment of entrance fees
2) Entry to Public Lectures at a reduced fee
3) Use of any of the Society’s Telescopes (at the last count we have 8 Telescopes and 11 pairs of binoculars) at the Observatory or..
4) The ‘Telescope Hire’ scheme have you ever thought about using your ‘own’ telescope? well the Society does have a number of simple and also high quality telescopes that you can ‘hire’ for as long as you want How does this work? Telescope Hire is open to ANY and ALL Society members
There are two basic groups of equipment available:
a) High quality telescopes for EXPERIENCED users this group includes the Celestron C11-GPS, Orion 10-inch Dobsonian, Meade ETX 125 PE, Takahashi FS 102 and Celestron 125 Binoculars.
b) Basic beginner’s telescopes/binoculars this group includes three 6-inch Dobsonian telescopes, 10 pairs of Celestron 10 x 50 Binoculars.
For group a) the person wishing to borrow the equipment MUST:
1) Assure myself, Gain, Marcus, Paul or Steve that they are competent to use the equipment this is because the Insurance covers use by the public but does not cover damage caused by the private use by members.
2) MUST pay a small hiring fee (of around £5 per month) during the loan period
3) MUST provide a ‘deposit’ before taking the equipment this deposit will be returned on the proviso that the equipment is returned in good condition
4) MUST sign an indemnity to the effect that any damage caused to the equipment whilst on loan will be put right by the person loaning the equipment [This is because of rules imposed on us by the Charity Commission!]
5) Regular newsletter (OK not that regular but I do have other things to do!)
6) Availability of Books, magazines etc., in the clubroom
7) Plus a few other benefits of being a member of an Amateur Astronomy Society
The 2007 Annual General Meeting
The 2007 AGM consisted of reports from the main Committee members about the goings on in the Society for the past 12 months. I have tried to cover these issues, in earlier Newsletters, so I won’t go over old news, but I think you will be aware of a few issues, namely:
a) Rising costs and falling membership Paul shared with those present at the AGM, that, with the current commitments on upkeep of the Society, we are running with a deficit of about £800 per year even taking into account that we still have some money from the Legacy, this deficit is gradually eroding those reserves such that if nothing is done they will be exhausted in only perhaps 5 to 10 years as costs inevitably rise.
We are also expecting a ‘rent review’ on the Clubroom this year which may increase fixed costs by perhaps £100 per year.
So, a number of actions are being prepared and can be summarised as follows:
1) Membership subscriptions will rise by £3 per annum (around 10% for full membership but the members present still thought it was good value and there has been no increase for the past 2-3 years)
2) Non-essential expenditure, such as for magazines, will be reviewed members were asked to provide their personal copies at meetings to help out
There will be no new equipment or facilities purchased that uses a significant financial input from the Society grants will be applied for anything we need
b) Problems with vehicle access to the Observatory we are hoping that this saga will be resolved by the end of the Summer a new robust gate has recently been installed at the Observatory and we are hoping to have the ‘stones’ and original gate removed so allowing any member with a key for the new gate to take their car to the Observatory door for the first time on nearly 5 years.
c) A proposal was passed to obtain a Coronado PST to supplement the SolarMax 90 scope on the LX200 as mentioned above this will be part of a grant application.
e) Marcus has finished the 2007-8 program a copy of which you can find with the Newsletter. On one evening in October we are going to go to WYAS to hear a presentation by Alan Bean the 4th man on the Moon - and there is the usual mix of Public Lectures, members’ talks, Observatory Nights etc. as well.
Here are a few edited highlights of the new program:
Friday 1st June 2007 Public Lecture - ’Infra-Red Astronomy’ - Dr Mark Jones, the Open University
Friday 13th July 2007 Talk - ‘The History of Solar Observation - from Aristarchus to Zeeman’
Friday 10th August 2007 Observatory Night/Perseid Meteor Watch
Sunday 12th August 2007 HAPS Annual Barbecue
Saturday 1st September 2007 Inaugural Huddersfield Astronomy Day
Friday 7th September 2007 Public Lecture - ‘Building Up the Universe - the Big Picture’ - Dr Maurizio Salaris, Liverpool John Moores University
Saturday 6th October 2007 (1pm) ASTROMIND 2007 to be held at Moldgreen United Reformed Church meeting Rooms
Friday 12th October 2007 7.45pm Public Lecture (at West Yorkshire Astronomical Society)-’TBA’-Alan Bean, ex-NASA astronaut and 4th man to walk on the Moon
OBSERVATORY NEWS
The Observatory has not seen too much activity, over the past few months.
The past few months have been a frustrating time, for observing, as there has been precious few moments, either during the day or at night, to have a clear sky to observe the Sun or the Night Sky.
Thankfully March 3rd was a good night as we had a clear skies for the Total Lunar Eclipse many members and Observatory visitors saw the eclipse and it did get some good publicity from the media too just shows what can happen if the media get involved properly.
It was a real shame that we had not planned this in the Program but that is, unfortunately, ‘Patrick’s Law’ when you know something interesting is about to happen the sky is cloudy, but if you don’t plan anything in advance then it will be clear!
The past 6 months has possibly seen the worst observing conditions, for many winters that I can recollect.
An Astronomical Vacation? Per chance-
By now you have probably sorted out a ‘holiday’ for 2007 but maybe you should be planning for 2008. There will be a Total Solar Eclipse in August 2008, visible from Eastern Russia or China already many holiday companies have various offerings for the adventurous traveller.
Seeing a Total Solar Eclipse is probably one of those ‘must do things before you die’ type of activities. However, as with many Astronomical matters, once you have seen one, you will want to see another and then another. There is plenty of information on the World Wide Web about when these events take place and where to go to see them at their best unfortunately some of these places are off the beaten track but that what makes the holiday into an adventure.
Who would have thought that more than 10,000 people would venture to Libya to see last year’s Total Solar Eclipse.
The 2009 Eclipse, which crosses most of China and goes right over Shanghai, will be viewed by, possibly, the largest number of people on the Planet as it crosses China lets just hope that the ‘smog’ has cleared from those areas along the route!.
In addition at around the same date of the Eclipse the Yangtze River will ‘bore’ which is quite a spectacle in itself [Just like the ‘Severn River Bore’ only 5 times as high!
Astronomical visits/events
In the past few months, Society members have been on a few trips out:
3rd February 2007- a few of us went to Merseyside Astronomy Day 2007 (‘MAD’). Hosted my Liverpool John Moores University it was another series of interesting talks held at ‘Spaceport’ on the Mersey estuary - where there is a hands-on exhibition about Space. Everyone who went thoroughly enjoyed the day out and we have invited at least one or two of the speakers at MAD, to come to HAPS to give a talk during the 2007-8 program.
10th March 2007 - a gang of Society members went to AstroFest at Kensington Town Hall, to have a look around the exhibition (and buy a few things). The highlight of the day was a talk presented by Sir Patrick Moore, Bryan may and Chris Lintot, of the Sky at Night TV Program and Paul managed to get a signed copy of their new book too. As per usual, at AF, there was equipment on show that would burn a hole in even the most affluent astronomers’ pockets, but equally there were plenty of simple telescopes and other equipment for anyone on a small budget though I don’t think that many of the HAPS gang parted with much cash.
11th March 2007 - during Science Week we were invited to Crow Nest Park with the Coronado PST. Thankfully the weather was quite reasonable and we managed to show perhaps 30-50 people what the Sun really looks like quite possible we will be invited back next year.
7th April 2007 - The AAC star party a small group from HAPS went to the AAC and, for the first time in many visits, were blessed with clear sunny skies we took the opportunity to take a Coronado PST which was enjoyed by a small passing crowd of AAC members.
There was a range of talks including a review, in pictures of AstroFest 2007 at which some of you will remember that Sir Patrick Moore (who has presented the BBC TV Show for now 50 years), together with Chris Lintot (who is likely to take over from Sir Patrick in the next few years) and Brain May (one time drummer with the rock group ‘Queen’ and now is planning on completing his PhD in Astrophysics); gave a presentation about the S@N to a packed auditorium.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The next few months will be a busy period for HAPS.
We have the new Program starting and of course, that main focus of the next few months will be:
1) Astronomy Open Day at the Observatory late Summer more details to follow in due course and
2) ASTROMIND 2007 this will be held on the second Saturday in October at the United Reformed Church at Moldgreen. Please come along and support your Society there will be visitors from other Yorkshire Societies and we want to put on a good day. We plan to offer a visit to the Observatory after the close of proceedings at the Church hall. More details will be forthcoming in a few months.
The Lighter Side
Q: How many astronomers does it take to change a light bulb?
1) Ten! One to change the bulb, and nine to argue how their own bulb gives better colour.
2) None! Astronomers aren't afraid of the dark.
3) See the FAQs.
"What sort of light bulb should I buy?"
"Should I start with a candle?"
"Where should I buy my light bulb?"
"Where NOT to buy a light bulb."
"What type of light bulb to avoid?"
"What will I be able to see with my bulb?"
"How do I deal with telescope-pollution?"
"Can I buy a bulb for a friend?"
"Can I use my bulb in the daytime?"
An astronomer is on an expedition to Darkest Africa to observe a total eclipse of the sun, which will only be observable there, when he's captured by cannibals. The eclipse is due the next day around noon. To gain his freedom he plans to pose as a god and threaten to extinguish the sun if he's not released, but the timing has to be just right. So, in the few words of the cannibals' primitive tongue that he knows, he asks his guard what time they plan to kill him.
The guard answers, "Tradition has it that captives are to be killed when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky on the day after their capture so that they may be cooked and ready to be served for the evening meal".
"Great", the astronomer replies.
The guard continues, "But because everyone's so excited about it, in your case we're going to wait until after the eclipse."
How do we know that Saturn had lots of wives?
Because he has so many rings!
Jay Leno: Which is more useful, the Sun or the Moon?" A thirteen-year old: [Pause] "I think it's the Moon because the moon shines at night when you want the light, whereas the Sun shines during the day when you don't need it."
More here at:
http://www.juliantrubin.com/astronomyjokes.html
Next Newsletter
The next Newsletter should, hopefully be published sometime around September 2007. This should include reports on the events in the 2007-8 program, an update on Public Lectures and news of events coming up in the Winter of 2007.
As always contributions are welcome, in any format please send them to me by e-mail or snail mail