Wednesday 19 January 2011

BBC Stargazing Live

Having registered our events with the B.B.C., the day of our first event was approaching, and the B.B.C. Stargazing Live t.v. programmes had been affected by cloud cover so that no live observations could take place, and the weather forecast was not good for astronomers as still more cloud was forecast.
The day of our first event, 7th January an observing evening was upon us and yes, more cloud. The committee had however made a decision that no matter what, we must have representation at our dark site just in case anyone should be keen enough to turn up.
Our chairman called for me and asked if I would put my telescope in the car, just in case. I questioned the wisdom of this, but bowed to his seniority and dutifully loaded my scope, a pair of binoculars and spare tripod and off we set for our dark site.
When we arrived there, we were preceded by two other club members and a small number of people who had found out about our event, and had come for various reasons to find out more about astronomy.
The first lesson we gave them was on meteorology i.e. listen to weather forecasts, watch the skies and fir cone and seaweed and then ignore it all and ‘get out there’ anyway.
Whilst delivering an impromptu talk on astronomy, having distributed the Stargazing Live Star Guide, some one spotted a hole in the cloud, with Jupiter peeping through, so the only scope on site was hastily assembled but only in time to look at the underside of cloud again. Then for a while that’s how it was a hole, cloud a hole etc. with brief glimpses of Jupiter and her four Galilean Moons.
Eventually the skies cleared, to reveal all of the familiar constellations and more, with an excellent observing session being enjoyed, taking in star clusters, nebulae, galaxies double stars and so on to the amazement of newcomers, and eternal gratitude of seasoned astronomers.
People with younger children started to drift away about nine o clock in the evening, and yes, the cloud did return so it was all over by about nine forty five.
Relieved and exhilarated, we returned home around ten o clock, some two hours later than anticipated.

Event two: Monday 10th Jan 20011.
Venue: St Augustines High School Hunt End Redditch
Programme: Talk on Jupiter and Uranus by Dr. Johanna Jarvis, followed by observing and telescope workshop.
This was Johanna’s second visit to R.A.S, having given an excellent talk on the Sun last year, she once again delivered an excellent presentation which was appreciated by the phenomenal 53 people (25 members and 28 visitors) whose interest was held for some 45 minutes, then some very good questions were forthcoming from the floor with good and valid replies from the speaker.
The observing session was cancelled due to (you’ve guessed) cloud and rain, but the telescope workshop was an outstanding success with many people having their problems solved by club members, and others enjoying a talk on what to look for in the night sky in January by Richard Hendy who also has taken the evening G.C.S.E. astronomy course at the school for the last three years..
Another observing evening is planned for 14th January……… Watch this space!