Whitby & District Astronomical Society

Because of the timing of Caedmon College’s Easter break we have decided to have our ‘April’ meeting on the last day of March – Tuesday the 31^st March 2020.  [Read more about ‘Blue meeting March’ - April Meeting in March!]

Our association with Ayresome Primary School & Lego Innovation Studio will be continued again this year after been contacted by Elizabeth Labelle; assistant Head Teacher (phase 3).  This year’s group of pupils (around 30 or so) will be stopping at the Whitby Youth Hostel from April 6^th-10^th  and we'll be hosting a star party event for them on either the 8^th or 9th, whichever evening according to the forecast looks best...

We have been invited to Errington Primary School, Windy Hill Lane, Marske by the Sea, to assist with an event they are holding on March 13^th 2020.

The School is running a science week that week, culminating in the Year 3/4s being invited for a sleepover in the school on the Friday night, the theme for the week being space and astronomy.   They would like a star gazing evening, maybe with a campfire and stories of constellations myths, as well as indoor practical activities...

So, what would Saturday evening throw up?  Well, Mark first returned back to the Fox and Hounds in the late morning to reload the stored equipment and relocate to the Moors Centre.  This took quite a while, but at least it meant equipment was ‘on site’ for the evening.  Looking at the forecast for the evening prospects looked quite encouraging... and rather pessimistic at the same time!  Evening fell, Keith, Mark, Barbara and Mark journeyed up under ‘pessimistically encouraging’ skies, joining Paul Wood, who had been there quite a while already.  Paul Cass and Dr John McCue also brought their scopes along.... [Read more about Danby Moors Centre – Dark Sky Event]

Our first event of the Dark sky festival weekend (first weekend that is) saw us return to the Fox and Hounds at Ainthorpe.  Our first visit last October had proved rather frustrating with low cloud and then persistent heavy rain, preventing any chance of observing, or indeed any outdoor demonstration occurring.  Indoor presentations were the order of the evening, which turned into an enjoyable affair... [Read more about Fox and Hounds – Dark Sky Event]

In this month's edition:

• Planetary Skylights: Venus, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
• Meteors: Virginids
• Spring Equinox
• March 2020 Sky Charts

Over the Christmas break society members finally carried out some necessary remedial work on the observatory dome roof, stripping and then re-felting the door flaps.  Saul had noticed earlier in the month that the felt looked somewhat ‘dodgy’ especially on the flaps and on closer scrutiny in daylight it was clear it had deteriorated to such an extent it needed to be replaced. [Read more about Society News - Observatory Roof Work]

On the 28^th February 2020, we will be back down at Fylinghall School who have invited us to host their Stargazing Party.  Again, last year’s event, although successful was clouded out, so the ‘stack yard’ served as the ‘solar system’ for the scaled planetary demo, which went down very well indeed.  Then the Barn theatre acted as the venue for the indoor presentation.  I suspect if conditions are clear we shall be setting up on the front lawn in front of the main building. [Read more about Dark Skies Night – Fylinghall School]

On Saturday 22^nd, weather permitting, be we will be called in to action again at the Danby Moors Centre, for their Dark Skies Week event.  The National Park ‘Dark Sky’ events have all been highlighted widely in the media, including Astronomy Now Magazine, various local newspapers and radio, so if skies are forecast to be clear, public attendance will be high (over 50 -60) and we shall definitely require assistance from members regarding scopes /transport.  The event runs from 18:30h-20:30h, and we aim to be setting off around 17:45h to allow time to set up. [Read more about Dark Sky Night – Danby Moors Centre]

This year’s official ‘Dark Sky’ week falls during the end of February – coinciding with the half term break.  The society is delighted to be involved in a number of events, hopefully actually managing some observing outside this time.  Our first event is a return to the Fox and Hounds, Ainthorpe, on Friday February 21^st for a stargazing evening.  The event held here last October fell foul to some diabolical weather (low cloud and rain) so it was purely an indoor affair lasting all evening!.. [Read more about Forthcoming Society Involvement: Fox and Hounds – Stargazing Night]

In this month's edition:

• Planetary Skylights: Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Neptune, Mars and Jupiter
• Meteors: Alpha Aurigids
• February 2020 Sky Charts

Celestial treats summary for 2020, including planetary line-ups in the dawn and night skies, an Occultation of Venus by the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn coming to Opposition, Planet Vesta meeting the Beehive Cluster, and Mars at Opposition...
  [Read more about 2020 – A brief look ahead]

Hardly seems like twelve months have slipped by, but once again society members found themselves in the Hare and Hounds, passing out Christmas cards, pulling crackers, donning paper hats, pondering the nature of the plastic toys inside, groaning at the terrible Christmas jokes, but most of all looking forward to the Christmas fayre... [Read more about Christmas Meal 2019]

In this month's edition:

• Planetary Skylights: Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Mars and Jupiter
• Meteors: Quadrantids
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
• Earth reaches Perihelion
• January 2020 Sky Charts

The Hare & Hounds at Hawsker will again be the venue for the Society Christmas meal.  The date is December 14^th at 19:00h.  Click to see the menu, and if you are interested in a festive feast, please let Mark know your course choices at the December meeting... [Read more about Society Christmas Meal 2019]