Hi Everyone!  I'm Andi.  Some of you know me from the WDAS monthly meetings or Star Parties, but the WDAS Newsletter reaches a wider audience.  I'm also part of your Newsletter team with Mark and Héctor.  Héctor created this amazing website for you and he makes the newsletter work.  Mark writes most of the articles for your pleasure and education, while I publish them on the web.  But this article I'll write myself, because I want to introduce some regular new content to the WDAS website and ask you to consider supporting the work. [Read more about How you can support Astronomy Education]

In this month's edition:

  • Planetary Skylights: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Juipter & Neptune
  • Meteor Showers: Geminids, Usrids
  • Winter Solstice
  • December 2016 Sky Charts

In the first of this two-part feature we shall take a look at some of the celestial winter wonders located in or near the asterism sometimes referred to as the Celestial “G”, whether using the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

But first let us familiarise ourselves with the celestial “G”.  This large asterism encompasses much of the southern aspect of the winter sky, incorporating the brightest stars visible there, which form a large, slightly tilted in aspect, capital letter ‘G’... [Read more about A Winter Sky Ramble (Part 1)]

In theory, a moon can have a moon.  The region of space around a satellite where a sub-satellite can exist is called a 'Hill sphere'.  Outside the hillsphere the sub-satellite would be lost around the satellite, and therefore orbiting the planet or the sun instead of the moon itself... [Read more about Can a Moon Have a Moon?]

Christmas Meal 2016

As of going to press, 8 people have so far booked for the society Christmas meal at the Hare and Hounds on Friday 9th.  Menus choices must be made by December 6th - the night of our monthly meeting, which is the cut off date for anyone wishing to book a seat at the festive table.  Travelling arrangements will be finalised then.  The meal has been provisionally [Read more about Christmas Meal 2016]

May 9th has been pencilled in for Paul’s lecture.  The topic has yet to be decided, and the venue, but apart from that everything is going to plan. [Read more about Paul Money Lecture - Update]

Eskdale Star Night

We have been invited once again to assist with the Schools star night activities.  The event is some way off, but the date for the diary is March 22nd – 19:00h.  The York planetarium will be present, and hot soup, rolls and cakes will be available.  Should be a good evening! [Read more about Eskdale Star Night]

Leeds Astromeet 2016

Five society members, Andi, Andy, Lee, Mark and John from Westerdale made the journey over to Leeds Astromeet this year.  With Andi at the helm, we seemed to make good time, arriving at the venue with almost half an hour to spare before the first lecture... [Read more about Leeds Astromeet 2016]

In theory, a moon can have a moon.  The region of space around a satellite where a sub-satellite can exist is called a hillsphere.  Outside the hillsphere the sub-satellite would be lost around the satellite, and therefore orbiting the planet or the sun instead of the moon itself. [Read more about Can a Moon Have a Moon?]