Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for November 2014: a digest of the month's latest contributions to our website. Below you'll find Society News, Sky Notes and In-Focus articles printed in full. There's also future events, and trailers for other articles which appear in full on the website - just a click away!
On the website you'll also be able to comment on articles, and if you'd like to play an editorial role in creating new content, just let us know!
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Society News
We have ordered 20 copies of Night Scenes 2015. Compiled by Paul Money, who will hopefully be coming up to speak in spring 2015. All who purchase NSC will know it to be an indispensable colour almanac/ booklet, packed full of information on the coming year’s monthly celestial highlights. The price will be £4 to paid up members, £6 for non members. First come, first serve as usual.
It was a very encouraging turnout for our first meeting of the ‘new season’, and a new format as well. Apart from usual society news and business and a review of the night sky using Sky pro plus 7, each monthly meeting will also feature ‘mini’ presentations on a particular item relating to astronomical news and events, or a more in depth look at a particular celestial object, theory, or topic.
Last month Andi gave a brief, but very interesting presentation on NASA's Grail Mission, and its discovery of a huge rift valley on the moon.
In this month's meeting:
Mark will talk about initial results from the fly-by of comet Siding Spring's pass of Mars.
Andi will also be giving a small presentation about the Rosetta mission, in particular the lander "Philae", which hopefully will make it safely to the comet surface on 12th November.
We do hope you can come along, it’s not only good to see more faces, but also the society functions more effectively as well.
In the News
In mid-September WDAS Members hoped to see a display of the Northern Lights after a solar flare rated X1.6. But in April, NASA's 'Swift' Satellite witnessed a solar flare emitted from a young Red Dwarf star, estimated at X100,000. Could our sun do that? What would happen to an 'earth' orbiting that star? ...
First Image of Comet Siding
Spring at closest point to Mars
Comet season is Open! Not only is the Rosetta Satellite orbiting a comet on which it hopes to successfully deposit a lander next month, but we'll have a chance to observe Comet Siding Spring at close quarters on Sunday 19th October.
For a couple of reasons, Comet Siding Spring is providing us with a rare treat...
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has produced a unique composite image of comet Siding Spring as it made its never-before-seen close passage of a comet by Mars.
Here's what we know so far...
Events
Caedmon College Normanby Site (you may know it as Whitby College or Whitby School), Room H1.
In Members' monthly meetings we usually take a tour of the night sky for the coming month using the Planetarium program. Have talks and presentations on various topics of astronomy/space etc, and discuss future events etc. New members welcome.
A Public Star Party, weather permitting, near the Captain Cook monument on West Cliff (setting-up from 20:30hrs).
Solar & Lunar Observations.
Observe the night sky with us at the Bruce Observatory, Caedmaon College - Normanby campus (formally Whitby College).
Observing Nights are held weather permitting: check for a relatively clear sky before leaving home. If in doubt, Mark can be reached on tel 01947 605516.
Please note the college drive gate is now operated via a electronic key code - so anyone wishing to attend must be at the car park at the top of the drive by 19:00hrs, unless an arrival time has been arranged with Mark/Keith after 19:30hrs. Otherwise shout or bip car horn - we'll hear.
