Did anyone else notice a bright light flash outside - presumably in the sky, around 10:45pm -11pm on Wed 10th June. The light persisted for around 3 or 4 seconds and was roughly south in orientation, reasonbly high, but it was not directly visible. No sound was heard, so a bolide can be ruled out. It could have been a brilliant meteor. Anyone else notice anything? [Read more about Mystery Flash]
Perhaps not a first, but at least opening star party event of the summer season on May 23rd went ahead in pretty decent conditions, with just a little cloud around the horizon. With five scopes deployed and eight members present, the most was made of the bright twilight conditions that prevail at this time of year.
A lovely waxing crescent moon, the planets; Venus and Jupiter and Saturn and finally some of the brighter stars, made it an enjoyable evening, certainly plenty of ‘goodies’ to keep a quite sizeable and interested crowd at the eyepieces for a couple of hours... [Read more about Summer Star Party Season kicks-off in style]
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... [Read more about Paul Money Lecture]
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. [Read more about Summer Star Party Season]
Here’s a date for your diary, popular astronomer and top astro-lecturer Paul Money will be giving a presentation in Whitby’s Pannett Park Museum on Tues April 21st.
Paul will be presenting ‘Images of the Earth’, - our planet from space. Doors are open from 7pm for a 7:30 start.
Admission is £3 for adults and £1.50 for under 14’s. Homemade refreshments will be available. Anyone who has seen Paul before will know a great evening is in store. [Read more about Paul Money lecture ‘Images of the Earth’]
So, did you manage to observe something of the eclipse?
After the total cloud out' of the last major astronomical event; the early morning transit of Venus in 2012, the chances of viewing the most significant solar eclipse since 2003 at best looked in the balance, but sometimes luck does favour the optimistic.
So I suppose we should consider ourselves rather fortunate that the weather patterns altered, shifting the low cloud and fog which blanketed the area each morning in the days leading up to Friday, and that the forecast heavy cloud for the morning itself was considerably more patchy and thinner than predicted.... [Read more about The Day the Sun Smiled]
The society has been invited to assist at an event being held by the National Parks Authority in October. This will be at the Moors Centre; Danby on Oct 31st and will be some form of star party/presentation format depending on conditions. Further details will follow later in the summer. [Read more about Danby Centre Visit]
As you will have read last time we have been invited to assist at the forthcoming ‘star night’ at Eskdale school on March 4th (the night after our March meeting).
If skies are clear we will be taking several scopes up, as well as the laptop and projector (plan B).
Any members wishing to assist on the evening please be at Eskdale School for 6:30pm (front door car park).
The Telescopes have to transported through the main hall and erected at the back of the school, hopefully observing Jupiter, Orion etc.
I believe hot soup, buns, tea and cakes will be available to warm the cockles should it be a chilly evening. [Read more about Eskdale Star Event]
We are rapidly approaching what is undoubtedly one of the celestial highlights of the year, the spring equinox, which falls on March 20th.
What, the spring equinox?!? Yes but, this year’s spring equinox will not be the anonymous affair it normally is, but will be marked with something rather more fitting, and for a lucky few (in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard) very much more memorable. [Read more about Partial Solar Eclipse – 2015]
| Sun | Rise | Set |
|---|---|---|
| Actual | 08:03 | 15:41 |
| Civil Twilight | 07:20 | 16:24 |
| Nautical Twilight | 06:34 | 17:10 |
| Astronomical Twilight | 05:50 | 17:53 |
| Moon | Rise | Set |
|---|---|---|
| 13:44 | 04:35 |
