Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for November 2019: a digest of the month's latest contributions to our website. Below you'll find Society News: past and coming events, a hint of Christmas dinner, and of course your monthly Sky Notes.
This month sees a transit of Mercury across the Sun, and a plethora of planetary conjunctions... full details below!
And don't forget: the Dark Sky event in Danby is tomorrow (2nd November)... come along and help if you can.
Society News
This is before our next monthly meeting so better give details here.
The venue is the same as usual –Danby Moors Centre with the programme along similar lines to the previous ones. So, after getting there and deciding its too cloudy/ too rainy/ too windy/too snowy.. etc we shall be hosting an indoor show. But let’s not be too pessimistic, we are due some fair weather...surely, especially on a weekend and I’m confident Saturday 2nd is when it commences. The event is public bookable and hopefully around 50-60 will have done so.
We are starting a little earlier this year, (18:00h) hopefully so that we can make the most of any views of Saturn, so we need to be on site for 17:35h allowing time to set up, whatever that may be. Transportation will be key – especially if conditions are liable to be good for observing.
If you can make it along, please meet at Marks house: 33 Laburnum Grove – Whitby for 17:10h.
It’s been a while since i was last in the ‘drill hall’ on Bagdale, spent many an hour there in the past. This was (and always has been) the venue for the Scouts, and as conditions in the sky were once again no good for observing, it was our destination on 3rd October 2019.
Keith and Mark saw to duties, the usual mix of boisterous demonstrations and a presentation. The white washed wall served brilliantly as a large screen, with the spectacular images of deep sky objects particularly going down well. The scouts appeared to enjoy the evening, hopefully next time getting to look through a telescope.
As you may know this was originally intended to be a two evening event, however as interest was more forthcoming for just the Saturday, Colin and Vicky dropped the Friday evening from the program. Friday, as it transpired was a clear night, great for observing. Saturday was ‘orrid (at least it wasn’t windy), and although the BBC forecast still offered some optimism, the Met office one did not. The Met office was correct and any lingering hopes of some clear breaks were quickly extinguished by the rain.
Having already made one journey up to Ainthorpe during Saturday morning to drop off a couple of Dobsonians (insurance policy...just in case), as well as the inflatables and screen, Mark and Keith, along with the remainder of the necessary paraphernalia, made their way up to the Fox & Hounds for 16:30h in light and intermittent precipitation (probably the high watermark of ‘reasonable’ weather that night).
After being warmly greeted by Colin, Vicky and staff on arrival, Keith and Mark set about making the games lounge fit for the background of a ‘Sky at Night’ episode. Actually, Colin and the staff had already inflated the planets, which was a welcome surprise and saved a considerable amount of time. The poster boards, a Tal refractor, even meteorite samples, all added to the look of an astronomical themed event. Soft drinks and biscuits were on hand, although a number of ‘harder beverages’ also appeared.
Around 14 people had initially booked for the evening (which included dinner) and although there were a couple of cancellations (due to the weather I suspect), proceedings were delayed only slightly. Following introductions and with a captive audience, Mark spent the first hour of the indoor show using the SN8 program, touring the night sky as it should have appeared that evening, before going on to highlight some forthcoming astronomical events.
At around 18:30h we adjourned to the restaurant room for dinner, having made our menu choices earlier. The cuisine and service was excellent, and with the room to ourselves, we chatted about all kinds astronomical topics. It was agreed there was little chance of performing demonstrations outside, so we returned to the games room suitably stuffed refreshed for part two of the evening. This was composed of some Earth-Moon scale demo’s, followed by some more on a grander theme. The final part of the evening was spent looking at various types of deep sky objects, taking us to 22:00h.
Despite the rain and general grotty conditions, people hopefully took something away from the evening. We certainly enjoyed the night, and are set to return in late February or early March for the Dark Sky event Colin and Vicky have signed up to with the national parks. Hopefully then, the weather will see fit to facilitate some outdoor observing this venture Colin and Vicky are seeking to promote long term deserves.
Many thanks for the hospitality shown by Colin and Vicky and the Fox and Hounds staff, a venue which we thought was quite impressive and are eager to see just as much as Colin and Vicky are, how much potential this observing site offers, not only in terms of viewing, but public comfort.
To be discussed at the November meeting and booked shortly after.
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 begin.
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.
The party location was to the rear of Archery green on the West Cliff, and my, was the ground sodden; the grassy car park next to the pitch and putt was exceedingly messy and wet (it was also the 25th Goth weekend and the town was bursting, with cars parked all over the place).
Mark, who was met at the location by Keith, had brought just the two Dobsonians along and having eventually located some firmer, less muddy and squelchy ground, they set up the equipment. Chloe joined us soon after with a very small party who had not cancelled. Elaine, Phil and Richard also made it along and with a few members of the public coming over, there was a decent little gathering given the nature of the day.
Conditions were rather chilly and a little breezy, but UK astronomers are hardy souls, and with clear skies overhead we set about targeting a few objects. Jupiter was close to departing and looked decidedly ‘wobbly’ through the eyepiece. Saturn on the other hand was a reasonable prospect with the rings and Titan quite well resolved. Other ports of call included M57, M13, Alberio, M31, Mizar and M27, whilst also giving a laser pointer tour of the constellations, brighter stars and other luminaries of interest.
Mark even spotted a meteor, when everyone else was looking in the other direction... honest guv! Although the event was only an hour in duration, it was nevertheless most enjoyable, only near the end did Elaine’s proposal to decamp to warmer climes...Jamaica or St Lucia, seem to make perfect sense!
(See all images form WDAS 2019 Events in the Gallery!)
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.
