This year’s official ‘Dark Sky’ week falls during the end of February – coinciding with the half term break.  The society is delighted to be involved in a number of events, hopefully actually managing some observing outside this time.  Our first event is a return to the Fox and Hounds, Ainthorpe, on Friday February 21st for a stargazing evening.  The event held here last October fell foul to some diabolical weather (low cloud and rain) so it was purely an indoor affair lasting all evening!.. [Read more about Forthcoming Society Involvement: Fox and Hounds – Stargazing Night]

Night Scenes 2020

If you have not already acquired a copy of ‘Night Scenes 2020’ by Paul Money, there are some copies remaining. 

If you would like one it’s just £5 to society members and £6 otherwise.  Night Scenes are an indispensable guide for the astronomical year ahead, so don’t delay, once gone that’s it. [Read more about Night Scenes 2020]

February Events

We shall be having a busy little period at the end of February with society involvement in several star party events.

On the 21st we shall be returning to the Fox and Hounds – Ainthorpe for their organised ‘Star Night’.  The following evening we shall be along the road at The Danby Moors Centre for part two and their ‘Dark sky’ public star party event on the 22nd (from 19:00h) Then on Friday 28th we shall be down at Fylinghall School for their Dark Sky event, again from 19:00h. [Read more about February Events]

Christmas Meal 2019

Hardly seems like twelve months have slipped by, but once again society members found themselves in the Hare and Hounds, passing out Christmas cards, pulling crackers, donning paper hats, pondering the nature of the plastic toys inside, groaning at the terrible Christmas jokes, but most of all looking forward to the Christmas fayre... [Read more about Christmas Meal 2019]

Forthcoming Events

  • The Society will be involved in several star party events in February coinciding with the half term ‘dark skies period from the 21st to the 28th.
  • The Fox and Hound at Ainthorpe have teamed up with the Danby Moors centre for the 21st 22nd events.
  • We will be at the Fox and Hounds Inn on the 21st and the Moors Centre the following evening.  Details will be given in the January or February notes.
  • On Feb 28th we have been invited by Angelique Russell to try again at Fylinghall School, hopefully with clearer skies this time.  Again, further details will be forthcoming in the Jan/Feb notes.

The Hare & Hounds at Hawsker will again be the venue for the Society Christmas meal.  The date is December 14th at 19:00h.  Click to see the menu, and if you are interested in a festive feast, please let Mark know your course choices at the December meeting... [Read more about Society Christmas Meal 2019]

Night Scenes 2020

As of publishing we are still awaiting Night Scenes 2020, but they should be with us soon.  We have ordered 25 copies and if you want to reserve a copy please contact Mark.

Stop Press: Night-Scenes have left the Printers!  Hopefully they will reach us in time for the WDAS December meeting. If not, we will inform you when they do.

Reluctantly the price of Night Scenes has had to be increased slightly, but even at £5 (for Members) it still represents outstanding value.  [Read more about Night Scenes 2020]

Off the Treadmill

After working the thickest end of four decades at Fylingdales, society stalwart Andy Lawrence has finally vacated the work treadmill and retired. After starting at Fylingdales in a cleaning capacity before moving to the stores, Andy eventually finished as a materials controller... [Read more about Off the Treadmill]

Transit of Mercury

Well, it wasn’t a total cloud out for the transit of Mercury on Nov 11th after all, that said, the window of observing opportunity was limited to an hour or so during the early afternoon (at least from the Whitby and district area).  Several members did manage to get out and view the transit during this period, taking a few nice images of the event... [Read more about Transit of Mercury]

The final star party in October, requested and organized by Chloe Barker and tied into ‘The Unblinking Eye: 55 years of space operations on Fylingdales Moor’ exhibition at the museum, looked most unlikely to go ahead less than six hours before it was due to start.  Rain was still failing during Saturday afternoon 24 hours after it had started!  However the forecast (and crucially the timing of it) was right for once, with colder, clearer conditions spreading down by late afternoon, just in time for the event to get a green light... [Read more about Star Party on 26th Oct 2019 for the ‘Unblinking Eye’ exhibition]

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