The date of the Vernal Equinox and officially the start spring in the northern hemisphere falls on March 20th this year. This is when the Sun's path - the ecliptic - first crosses the celestial equator on its apparent journey northwards into the sky... [Read more about The Spring Equinox]
All being well Paul is set to return to Whitby in May. The venue will be the college main hall (Whitby College as was) May 9th is the date ‘inked in’ and we will be looking to start around 19:30h. No definite topic as yet, although Paul has suggested an updated talk on Voyager, to coincide with its 40th anniversary since launch. [Read more about Paul Money lecture]
We have been invited to another ‘Star Night’ hosted by Eskdale School. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday 22nd of March, starting from 19:00h. The York University people will be on hand with the inflatable planetarium, and there will be food, soup, cakes, drinks etc available... [Read more about Eskdale School Event]
If skies are reasonably clear on Feb 25th we have been invited to host a star party down at Boggle Hole Youth Hostel. The event commences at 19:00h until around 20:30h.
Last year, the same event attracted large numbers ofthe public; indeed Keith and Mark were swamped at the two scopes deployed. We will discuss arrangements at the February meeting. [Read more about Boggle Hole Event]
"So what are gravity waves", Prof Hendry asked? How did we detect them, and what can they tell us about the Universe. It took Einstein to figure out gravity’s true modus operandi. Gravity, Einstein showed, did not just make what goes up always come down. Gravity made the universe go round! ... [Read more about Astromeet 2017 Talk Summary: Prof Martin Hendry: ♫ Gravity sang ♫ and LIGO was listening. (How we detected Gravity Waves)]
Bard Gibson is the Professor of Astrophysics director at the Centre for Astrophysics in Hull. He and his research team use some of the most powerful computers available to generate simulations of large scale structures in the Universe (such as galaxies). And that's what his talk was about... [Read more about Astromeet 2017 Talk Summary: Prof Brad Gibson: Building spiral Galaxies with supercomputers ]
Allan's chosen subject this year Mary Somerville-the Lady Mathematical Astronomer, one of the first serious scientific woman of the 19th century, a ‘grand amateur', of independent means who could pursue her passion to a professional level. In and an age when scientific work was undertaken by men, very few women could be counted as equal to their male scientific peers... [Read more about Astromeet 2017 Talk Summary: Dr Allan Chapman: "Mary Somerville 1780-1872"]
As far back as 1982, Prof Southwood recalled, he was present at the meeting at which the Cassini mission to Saturn stemmed. David remembers the date well – June 30th – his birthday.
David was founder of what became the Space and Atmospheric Physics group, part of the team arguing for a ‘bolt on lander’ which eventually would be funded by ESA as NASA was reluctant to do so. The lander was not destined for Saturn, but its mysterious and largest moon Titan. Huygens was born. Prof Southwood was also leader of the team which developed the magnetometer on the main Cassini spacecraft... [Read more about Astromeet 2017 Talk Summary: Prof David Southwood "Cassini-Hyugens and Rosetta/Philae"]
In our Solar System we find to kinds of planets: small rocky planets closer to the sun, and ice giants further out. The rocky planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) have only three moons among them, whereas the ice giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Saturn) have around ninety. This month's video article by 'Astronomic' explains...
We are starting to distribute Night Scenes 2017, so if you would like a copy it’s just £4 to society members, £5.50 otherwise. Cannot be certain how many copies will remain once all those spoken for have been dispatched, so don’t delay, it would make a fantastic new year's gift. [Read more about Night Scenes 2017]
| Sun | Rise | Set |
|---|---|---|
| Actual | 05:14 | 20:44 |
| Civil Twilight | 04:30 | 21:27 |
| Nautical Twilight | 03:30 | 22:27 |
| Astronomical Twilight | 01:54 | 00:03 |
| Moon | Rise | Set |
|---|---|---|
| 12:35 | 03:30 |
