Apr.30, 2017

Three of the Strangest Moons in our Solar System

Our Solar System has some pockmarked, weird and contorted moons.  Let's have a lok at a few of them.

First up: Miranda, Uranus’s largest moon.

Miranda has some very distinct features that have left astronomers wondering why it’s so ugly.  As well as the usual craters and pockmarks that cover any rocky object with basically no atmosphere, Miranda has deep, almost parallel gashes running along its southern hemisphere.  It looks a bit like a ball of yarn.  These deep grooves are confined to three regions in the Southern hemisphere.

Astronomers have a couple of ideas about where these features come from... [Read more about Three of the Strangest Moons in our Solar System]

By Andi
Apr.30, 2017

Sky Notes - May 2017

In this month's edition:

  • Planetary Skylights: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus
  • Meteor Showers: Eta Aquariids
  • Comet: 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák, Comet 2015 V2 (Johnson)
  • May 2017 Sky Charts
[Read more about Sky Notes - May 2017]
By Mark D
Apr.30, 2017

Distant Suns: Ayresome School visit (Whitby YH)

For the second year in succession our Star party event planned for visiting pupils of Ayresome Primary school in Middlesbrough, went ahead under crystal clear skies.  (Shock horror, yes, it is hard to believe) Requested by Libby Lavelle, Assistant Head Teacher, after last year’s successful evening which delighted and enthused the pupils, this year’s two dozen strong party of 10 and 11 year olds were already excited by the prospect of something similar.

With the party staying at Whitby Youth Hostel, the event was again held on the grassed outer approach courtyard area adjacent to the drive way along to the hostel.  Mark, Keith and Lee were joined by Andy L this year, so 4 scopes were in operation. [Read more about Distant Suns: Ayresome School visit (Whitby YH)]

By Mark D
Apr.30, 2017

Event Horizon: future Star Party events

The ‘summer ‘ star party season is almost upon us and as per other years we shall be hosting events from the Cpt Cook headland area on West Cliff; and some from the Archery green area later in the summer.  [Read more about Event Horizon: future Star Party events]

By Mark D
Apr.30, 2017

Northcliffe and Seaview date change

This event has now been postponed a few weeks whilst the Holiday campsite undergoes new staff training, apparently apart from other issues they have been incredibly short staffed. The delay will be used to further promote a future event: the management would like to do this properly and would also like to be on hand. No definite dates yet, but we may be looking at late May or early June.

We will include details in the June notes, or post them on the website should it be beforehand. They are eager to host an event, but factors have conspired against them up to now.  Northcliffe and Seaview Holiday Parks, High Hawsker. [Read more about Northcliffe and Seaview date change]

By Mark D
Apr.30, 2017

Cancelled: Paul Money lecture 2017

Unfortunately the lecture by Paul has had to be cancelled,
due to family illness.

After a two year break, all being well Paul will return to Whitby on May 9th to give a presentation on the Voyager probes to coincide with their 40th launch anniversary.  Entitled “Triumphs of Voyager pt 1: Journey to Jupiter/Splendours of Saturn”, it promises to be every bit as informative and entertaining as Paul’s other talks...

[Read more about Cancelled: Paul Money lecture 2017]
By Mark D