☆ ☆ ☆ A Happy New Year in 2019 to all our Members! ☆ ☆ ☆
Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for January 2019: a digest of the month's latest contributions to our website. Below you'll find Society News, Sky Notes and the return of Mark's feature article Crossing the Line; along with event details and details of this month's Lunar Eclipse.
(Reminder: this month's WDAS meeting is on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.)
Society News
This year’s society Christmas meal at the Hare and Hounds was once again a convivial occasion.
Nine members made it to the festive banqueting table, the taxi service provided by Mark and Saul ran like clockwork, shaming the normal taxi services. Besides Mark and Saul, Andy L, John L, Keith, Lee, and Victor all made it, along with Barbara and Mark, their first time.
The evening proved most enjoyable, crackers with party hats, pathetic jokes and trivia and novelty plastic things. Crackers sure are not what they used to be. The food though was delicious and, apart from some veg, plates went back pretty much empty. There were no menu issues either, so Mark had correctly placed the orders. With people driving etc, the wine cellar was not emptied this year, and just a couple of bottles were shared out amongst us... sort of.
Here’s to next year’s event.
Did anyone spot any Geminid meteors?
(Publisher’s note: Andi in Tenerife raises his hand, smugly.)
The evenings (and early part of the mornings) on the relevant dates, were pretty cloudy. The dawn of the 14th was clearer, but at 06:45h skies were beginning to lighten and Mark only saw two (one of these wasn’t a Geminid), so hopefully someone may have fared better.
Essential work on the Bruce Observatory is once again required in order to maintain the integrity of the building itself.
The telescope and mount itself is in pretty good working order (maybe a good clean required) but the shutters, guttering, south side wall, dome felting and exterior laths all require attention.
Having been in contact with the college, a loose agreement may have been agreed whereby they would be willing (in the main) to provide funding for materials, as long as we carry out the work.
It is hoped to fully assess what is actually required over the Christmas period, hopefully reporting back at the next meeting in January.
There are not too many copies of night scenes 2019 remaining. If you would like a copy it’s just £4 to society members and £6 otherwise. They are an indispensable guide for the astronomical year ahead, so don’t delay, once gone that’s it.
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.
