Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for August 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 August:
- At the bottom of the newsletter - and of course on the website - you'll find lots of scheduled star party events. All subject to weather, of course; but if the right evening presents itself, especially as nights start to draw in again, we will endeavour to host an unscheduled event or two as well.
- As we head towards the busy Regatta, Folk week and Bank holiday period, assistance with setting up, manning and generally helping out would be greatly appreciated.
- Don't forget the Perseids Meteor Party on Archery Green on Wednesday August 12th!
Society News
Members of the society travelled over to Kettleness on July 18th to host a star party for a visiting party of cub scouts; the Osbaldwick and Murton Cub Scouts, requested by their leader Julie Lund.
All were looking forward at the prospect of being able to view Saturn in the summer night especially as skies were forecast to be clear. Unfortunately almost total cloud cover greeted our arrival, but we still deployed the scopes just in case breaks appeared; they didn’t.
The first part of the backup plan saw a presentation in the activities room using the laptop and projector, and a quick trip through the solar system and beyond. Then, outdoors again to give the scaled solar system demonstration, which worked very well at this venue; the old railway station, the long strip of grass of the rail bed and platform being ideally suited to distances involved.
Certainly the glow lights used for planets showed up nicely along the edge of the platform and there were plenty of eager ‘planet bearers’. It was such a pity that the real planets remained hidden and the optimistically deployed scopes idle. All the same i think the cubs enjoyed themselves, especially those doing their astronomy badge. Thanks to John, Keith, Lee and Andi for support, equipment and transportation.
Certainly one of our observing highlights on the WDAS calendar, we are hoping to host two events at Hook’s House this year; one on Aug 22nd and another on Sept 5th.
The Aug 22nd event will coincide with a quater phase moon, whilst the 5th will be a dark sky event. Should the first two dates fall victim to the weather, we shall try again on Sept 12th.
All events have a members set up time for 8pm. Hook’s House is an excellent dark site location situated on the B1447 overlooking Robin Hood’s Bay. If the weather is fine the campsite WILL be busy, and if skies are clear enough we should have a cracking evening, as always.
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.
