Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for May 2015: 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!
Quick Summary for May:
- The final WDAS monthly meeting before summer recess is Tuesday May 5th.
- First Star Party of the Summer Season on Saturday 23rd May... please help!
Society News
After the society meeting in May, the next formal meeting is not until early autumn, but weather permitting we hope to see some of you at the scheduled public Star Party events over the early summer months. WDAS members who regularly support star parties will know how rewarding these can be. All that is required is a fine evening, a curious public (and some are believe you me very curious) and the scopes. Members also find it a great way to interact and share their interest in astronomy with others.
Assistance is always welcome - actually it's becoming a necessity, even it's just to lend a hand in setting up equipment and keeping a watchful eye on things. So if you can make it along, please do join us. If you are not sure as to whether an event is on due to weather conditions, please ring Mark beforehand to verify matters.
"Earthrise" taken by Apollo 8
on 24-Dec-1968
Click for full-size image
There surely cannot have been that many occasions in which Paul has made the journey up to Whitby in such fine conditions, more akin to summer than spring. It was a pleasure not having to battle wind, rain, snow... plague of locusts, etc which often seems to coincide with Paul’s appearance at the Museum.
"Blue Marble" taken by
Apollo 17 on 07-Dec-1972
Click for full-size image
A fine evening then, and a great turn out for Paul’s presentation - 40 in fact were seated in the Normanby room, which I know Paul really appreciated, as do we, and it was nice to see so many members. Although a departure from ‘Images of the Universe’ series, Paul’s talk still followed the ‘images’ format, but instead of looking out to the universe at large, the Earth-Moon system was itself the focus of attention, with ‘Images of the Earth’.
First photo of earth+moon.
Taken from Mars by "Curiosity"
Rover on 31-Jan-2014
Click for full-size image
Paul’s personal choice of 10 key or iconic images, depicting the earth- moon system from various locations within our solar system, each accompanied by an explanation and augmented with further sub-images. The images ranged from ‘The Pale Blue Dot’; Earth shine; Marble Earth, Goodbye Earth, Hello Earth, Earth at Night, Earth from the Red planet and various Earth-Moon compositions. Paul’s enthusiasm for his subject matter, whatever topic, is infectious, and the time seemed to fly by.
Earth/Moon taken by Mariner
en-route to Venus 21-Dec-1999
Click for full-size image
The home-made refreshments were as ever delicious, hardly a morsel left, with Paul putting his doggy bag (as instructed ) to good use for his journey home. We say it every year, but Paul’s talks are ‘infotainment’ of the highest calibre, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
"Earthrise" taken by Kaguya
on 31-Jan-2014 ©JAXA/NHK
Click for full-size image
Many thanks to Pam for the food, Rosemary, for organising the Museum room etc, Rosy (who had made the journey over from Kirbymoorside especially to see Paul) and who ably assisted in the kitchen along with my good lady wife, who was locked in the ‘cupboard kitchen’ and not allowed out until all the washing up had been done!
Moon+Aldebaran snapped
by Mark as we left Paul's talk
Click for full-size image
To cap the evening off in fine style, on venturing outside, a quite spectacular conjunction of the crescent moon (in earth shine) Venus and Aldebaran, greeted us, quite superb. Not surprising then, that many a camera phone was produced, and if you can send in any results (either to Mark or via the web site) that would be great.
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.
