Prof. Brian Cox and Dara O Briain return to our TV screens this winter in BBC Stargazing LIVE (7th to 9th January) and Scarborough & Ryedale Astronomical Society are holding a special evening in Dalby Forest to coincide with the series.
Expect to see the planet Jupiter and its Galilean satellites, the Moon, the deep sky delights of the constellations of Orion, Taurus, Gemini and Andromeda and maybe even a comet through a range of quality telescopes.
Learn about the planets and the Solar System with hands on activities that are suitable for all the family.
The event takes place between 8pm and 10pm in the Courtyard and the Community Resource Centre. The event is free (charitable donations welcomed on the evening) and no booking is required.
Please note the date change for the April meeting due to April 18th being Good Friday.
The guest speaker for the April meeting will be Dr Stuart Lumsden from the School of Physics and Astronomy at Leeds University who will be giving a talk on Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs).
An outline of the talk from Stuart…….
I will present the evidence we have for the existence of black holes more than a million times the mass of our Sun at the centre of most galaxies. The “monsters” create enough energy to power galaxy-spanning phenomena. I will show the types of activity they can create and discuss both how the black holes grow, and the impact their activity has on the surrounding host galaxy.
The talk will be followed by refreshments.
Jeremy Dunning-Davies. Image credit: University of Hull
The society are pleased to welcome Jeremy Dunning-Davies, retired senior lecturer in applied mathematics at the University of Hull back to the society to give another talk, this time entitled alternative explanations in astrophysics.
An outline of the talk from Jeremy…..
‘It seems appropriate that the recent death of the controversial astronomer Halton Arp should cause people to review some, at least, of the basic accepted ‘truths’ of conventional astronomy. This talk will be concerned with such a review with special attention being paid to the fairly well established areas of plasma cosmology and the closely related popularly termed electric universe.’
The talk will be followed by refreshments.
**PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS WEATHER PERMITTING**
If the Sun is not shining on the day, it will be impossible to see the eclipse.
The morning of Friday 20th March 2015 sees a partial solar eclipse of the Sun visible from the UK. To see totality, the nearest location is the Faroe Islands. From Scarborough, at maximum approximately 90% of the Sun will be obscured and an eclipse of similar magnitude will not occur in Scarborough until August 12 2026.
The last major solar eclipse visible from Scarborough was on 31st May 2003 and the society that back then was still known as Scarborough & District Astronomical Society observed the eclipse from the roof of the Spa above the Sun Court. At our recent committee meeting it was felt that the Spa would once again make an ideal location for members to observe this rare astronomical event as it occurs during the morning and from the images below it certainly would be. It is the chosen location for society members but will be visible throughout the area (assuming clear skies). The images below also include the timings at each point of the eclipse.
For members of the public interested in viewing the eclipse, the eclipse will be visible throughout the area. In particular, anywhere along the foreshore or Esplanade area will afford good uninterrupted views. Space on the Spa Terrace will be limited for observing, and priority will be given to our society members who will be setting up equipment ready for viewing and photographing the event. However, before you attempt to observe the eclipse, please purchase solar viewing glasses for each person who wishes to see the eclipse. We cannot provide the public with solar glasses on the day or guarantee views through our dedicated solar telescopes. Safety is absolutely vital for solar observing as this is an extremely dangerous activity if done incorrectly.
**NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY WITHOUT PROPER SOLAR GLASSES OR OTHER APPROVED SOLAR VIEWING EQUIPMENT OR YOU WILL SUFFER PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE**
The eclipse starts at just before 08:30am, with first contact occurring at an azimuth of 119°.
1st contact
The eclipse maximum occurs at 09:33am, at an azimuth of 135°.
Maximum of eclipse.
To give a sense of how the eclipse will look at the time of maximum, the following graphic is a simulated view of how the eclipse will look from Leeds.
Eclipse data for Leeds, UK.
The eclipse ends at just before 10:45am, with final contact occurring at an azimuth of 154°. By this point the Sun will be at an altitude of 33° so comfortably above the Holbeck area further down the coast.
4th contact.
As the partial solar eclipse is a major astronomical event, the 2015 series of BBC Stargazing LIVE will be aired between 18th and 20th March to coincide.
Society Honorary President John Harper will also be observing the eclipse from the Clock Tower on the Esplanade overlooking the South Bay of Scarborough. All welcome if this venue is more suitable for access.
William Herschel. Image Credit: William Herschel Society
The guest speaker at our November meeting will be John Harris FRAS, member of the Society for the History of Astronomy, William Herschel Society and the Cotswold Astronomical Society.
William Herschel discoverer of Uranus and thousands of nebulae was the most eminent astronomer of his time. He was assisted by his sister Caroline who became a most prodigious astronomer in her own right becoming the first female discoverer of comets and deep sky objects. The talk touches on the contribution that Caroline made to the work of William.
Martin joined the York Astronomical Society in 1973 and has gone down hill ever since. Not one to take ‘no’ or ‘can’t’ for an answer but bone idle by nature he loves to stir things up.
Martin believes that telescope makers are a cartel who only want your money. ‘Fight back!’ he says. Build or restore your own telescope and have fun! Having worked in optics since he started his apprenticeship at Vickers Instruments (Formerly Thomas Cooke and Sons) in 1975, he brings ideas, anecdotes and a splash of humour to his talk.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Friday 18th November, 7.45pm, Ayton Village Hall – The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter – a talk by Dave Armeson of York Astronomical Society.
Dave Armeson is a former member of SARAS (or SADAS as it was) who is now a very active member of the York Astronomical Society. Dave is an experienced speaker who will be presenting an illustrated talk about the mission of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter which was launched in June 2009. If you have ever wondered how to study the features of the moon without leaving the comfort of your home then Dave’s interesting talk is sure to tell you how.
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