We now have 25 copies of Night Scenes 2019, and are beginning to distribute them. 

The good news is that they are just £4 to paid up society members (or those renewing) and £6 for non members.  They are without doubt the best glossy colour astronomical almanac on the market, quite simply indispensable for the coming year. [Read more about Night Scenes 2019 (have arrived!)]

We have now booked the Hare and Hounds for Dec 1st for 19:00h.  The booking is for up to 15 people, give or take, so it will be first come first serve.  A pre order of menu choices will be required a week before the date. [Read more about Society Christmas Meal 2018]

Night Scenes 2019

We will be putting in an order for 25 copies of Night Scenes 2019, however they are not expected out until late October/early November, so we may have to be a little patient. The price may also have increased, though perhaps not to the stated price on the Astrospace website, (Paul normally does us a deal) If you want to reserve a copy please let Mark know. [Read more about Night Scenes 2019]

Danby Dark Sky Event

After a mild week of clear evenings, it was on the cards that for the weekend of the half term ‘dark sky’ event at the Danby Moors Centre, an arctic plunge would complicate matters.  Chilly, blustery, showery conditions are not conducive for observing outdoors.  Therefore the decision was taken to host an indoor presentation for the 55 or so people who had booked to come along.  Although conditions did improve marginally, it proved to be the correct choice. [Read more about Danby Dark Sky Event]

And finally...

...we shall again be organising a WDAS Christmas meal for members and their friends, spouses, etc.  We are probably looking at The Hare and Hounds in Hawsker again.  We shall discuss at the October meeting.  Conformation of date will then be in November’s notes. [Read more about And finally... ]

In terms of observing success, if conditions had remained as per the early part of summer, it would have been A*.  [Read more about Summer: Mini bite Assessment]

This is part of the Dark Sky festival involving all the North York Moors dark sky sites.  We shall be hosting the event for Danby Moors Centre on October 27th.  [Read more about N.Y. Moors National Parks: Dark Sky Evening]

The society meetings restart in October, the first being on Tuesday 2nd.  We shall be looking back over the summer activities, and looking ahead to future events, both this year and next (our 25th).

Naturally, the Starry Night program will be utilised, and some thought will be given to some upcoming phenomena.  Hope you will be able to join us (see WDAS diary for venue and time etc). [Read more about Society Monthly Meetings – recommence]

Leeds Astromeet R.I.P.

It looks as though for the foreseeable future the Leeds Astromeet has fallen by the wayside, mainly due to expenditure and new university rules. 

There may be a chance of it being resurrected in a different format and at a different venue in the future, but as the last one held in 2016 apparently ran at a loss, Leeds AS are in no hurry to repeat the exercise. (^p^) [Read more about Leeds Astromeet R.I.P.]

Even though our society is a fully paid-up member of the Federatation of Astronomical Societies, the annual FAS convention is an event we have never previously attended, primarily because it is more often than not held in places too far from Whitby to be reasonably reached with a ‘days’ time frame’. 

For their 2018 convention however, the FAS ventured North, hosting the event at York University on Sept 22nd, so it was too good an opportunity to miss....and we very nearly did, given the relatively short notice publicising the event.  Delays in emails sent out being attributed to the search for a venue at a reasonable hire cost, a factor which has seen a number of lecture meets (including Leeds Astromeet) fall by the wayside in recent years... [Read more about FAS Convention 2018 (at York University)]

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