BASINGSTOKE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Meeting held at Cliddesden Primary School on April 28th 2005

Apologies 
Helen Mountstephens, Bryan Jenkins, Chester Bates, Brendon Shaw.

 

Welcome 
John Stapleton, (Chairman) opened by welcoming new members. He apologised for the change in programme, and Steve Harris from Newbury AAS will give his talk next month. He then handed over to Bob Trevan, his deputy..

 

An evening out
Bob remarked on an amazing evening some members had spent at Ottaker’s book shop when astronaut Dave Scott of Apollo 9 and 15 fame gave a talk on his book, ‘Two Sides Of The Moon’. 

 

Observation sessions
Several observation sessions organised by Russell Palmer at North Waltham School with year 6 pupils and two sessions planned by members had to be postponed because of adverse weather conditions.  

 

Starwatch
Andria Harbinson presented the Starwatch for May.

 

Talk by John Stapleton
The chairman talked on mythology linked to the constellations, in a presentation entitled ‘Urania’s Mirror’.  With the aid of a copy of some 18th Century illustrated card, in which the stars were pierced in size according to their magnitude, John pointed out that there were many more stars than we were used to seeing because of light the pollution we experience.

Bob thanked John for his very interesting talk.

 

Sponsors needed
Alan Lorrain asked if members would be willing to sponsor him on a 75-mile hike across Hadrian’s Wall in aid of Naomi House, which is a charity dependent Children’s hospice.

 

Jodrell Bank
After coffee Nick Hudson showed a short video he had taken of Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope.  Anyone wishing to learn more about Jodrell Bank can log on to www.jb.man.ac.uk/tech/lovell.

John thanked Nick for his show. 

 

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