Archive 2018-2019

Programme 2018-2019

All meetings start at 7.00pm in St. Peter’s Church Hall, Earley.
The open FridayCLUB meetings are now included in this listing.

If you are a speaker who would like to talk to the society or have a recommendation for a speaker or subject please email info@readingastro.org.uk.

please note Meetings are wheelchair accessible unless mentioned otherwise

September 15th 2018

Astronomy in Human History

Graham Bryant, FRAS

Chairman, Hampshire Astronomy Group

Astronomical events that have effected Human History – from art, history to warfare.

A perfect introduction for our new season of talks. New members in particular may appreciate gaining broad insight into a what can be a technical hobby.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

28th Sep – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

The importance of Orbits.

A beginners’ talk on orbits. How does gravity grab you?
Talk with emphasis on understanding basic astronomical topics for new members.

We are open to suggestions for subjects at all these Friday sessions.

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

October 20th 2018

A Window through the Universe

Peter Bull FRAS,

Peter’s presentation A Window Through The Universe is a purely scientific resume of our understanding to date.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

26th Oct – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Regular Friday meeting

Peter Tickner and Kenelm England

Starting out in astronomy – a beginner’s guide

PLUS Ken’s updated information from asteroids and dwarf planets.

We are open to suggestions for subjects

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

November 17th 2018

Spectroscopy – Analysing light from the stars

Dr David Boyd British Astronomical Association

David is a well-known active observer locally with Newbury Astronomical Society and office holder in the BAA best known for his variable star interest. Spectroscopy provides crucial data to understanding what is going on in a star’s heart that explains the range of stars types that we observe.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

23rd Nov – Friday Club

Entry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic…..

Telescopes. (provisional)

Hopefully again this year: Wayne Young (Reading AS)

With the return of the gift-giving season we always discuss telescopes and accessories at the November meeting.

From the simple astronomical amateur instrument to the major international collaborations the design of the telescope is always a compromise with the laws of physics. Wayne is working on new ways of presenting the subject. Don’t forget: Don’t buy a telescope without a sound knowledge of the compromises you have to make, and I am not even thinking of the rest of the family! 🙂

PLUS Gerry’s update on the Soyuz accident.

December 8th 2018

(Nb. 2nd Saturday)

Santa’s Grotto

Members’ practical stuff

A telescope is for life not just for Christmas. Come and complain about not getting what you wanted for Christmas and drool over what the others are getting. Tea and cakes provided, no cash machine again this year.

Followed by RAS “Christmas Special” including glass of Vin d’Asda compliments of the committee.

28th Dec – Friday Club

Entry is free and open to the public, this month’s topic…..

Our favourite season

Let’s run through our best objects tonight and the background story.
Tonight the Milky Way passes through the zenith in early evening. For north Europeans the winter sky is the time when conditions and the constellations’ stories are best .

After the break….
Members’ activities and talks
Free mince pie for the early arrivals!!

January 19th 2019

William Henry Smyth

Rob Peeling

At the age of 14 he ran away from home to join a merchant ship. Admiral William Henry Smyth 1788 – 1865 was a Royal Navy officer, hydrographer, astronomer and numismatist. He is noted for his hydrographic charts, astronomical work, and for a wide range of publications. (W)

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

Observing opportunity

21st Jan The Moon will be totally eclipsed between 0441 and 0543 UTCArrangements for observing at this unsocial hour will be discussed on 19th

25th Jan – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

A Guide To The Milky Way Galaxy

Brian Skidmore.

We may call it home but at 100,000 light-years it’s a big place. And the neighbourhood contains much dark matter giving physicists the next big challenge.

After the break….
Members’ activities and talks

February 16th 2019

Astrophysics at the highest energies

Tony Bell Dept of Physics, Oxford University

Prof Bell’s work is to understand the plasma processes responsible for cosmic ray acceleration and to explain cosmic ray origins. In this talk he will discuss supernovae, radio galaxies, and relativistic jets emitted by black holes.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

22nd Feb – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Asteroids and other stuff

Ken England our expert on the solar systems’ bits and pieces. Its variety, history and threat!

After the break….
Members’ activities and talks

Saturday 23rd Feb – Our Open Day

10am to 5pm Lunch to be arranged.

Open Day

Showcase the society to friends relatives and the world in general.

We will open up at 10am – 5pm at St Peters hall to show, discuss, demonstrate, display all aspects of the society and our enthusiasm for the universe.

The public will be invited from 13:00 ’til 17:00

If you have material for display but cannot attend it can be handed in at the next two meetings. Anything considered, images, drawings or observation diaries.

The usual refreshments available and bringing your own lunch welcome.

March 16th 2019

Geography and Geology in the Solar System

Amazing differences between the planets and moons in the solar system.

James Fradgley FRAS

James is a well-known Hampshire based speaker on many science subjects and has offered to stand in at short notice. Tonight’s talk looks at all the solid planets, larger moons and some asteroids.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

Location Map Overflow parking in the school next door is OK for Saturday sessions

Andrew Lound was unable to appear.

Programme changed:

To See the Beginning of Time

Andrew Lound Odyssey Presentations

22nd March – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Cosmic Distances

John Paraskeva (BASS software project)

Often refered to as the Cosmic Distance Ladder the methods of arriving at accurate descriptions of distances in the universe depend heavily on spectroscopy. Measuring accurate distances remains one of the biggest problems in Astronomy. John will show how spectroscopy and other techniques are used to measure distances.

After the break….

Members’ activities and talks

BAA Winchester Weekend. Apr7th -9th 2017

The annual conference attended by many local astronomers.

April 13th 2019 (2nd Sat)

Ancient Egyptian Astronomy

Dr Pauline Norris (Egyptology Researcher)

How did the Egyptians used their knowledge of the heavens in their belief systems and their monumental architecture? Pauline has PhD in Egyptology following archaeological investigations in the Egyptian Sahara. Pauline is a member of Newtown Astronomy Society in Mid-Wales. She recently spoke at TVAES.

After the coffee break the usual announcements and members activities.

26th Apr – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Fundamental Knowledge for the Observer

If it’s in the ‘O’ level syllabus it will be in this talk. Not strictly true but over the next few summer meetings we will get stuck into the topics which are the foundations of astronomy.

A good start will be ‘RA and dec’ or whatever that is and how it became so.

We are open to suggestions for subjects
After the break….
Members’ activities and talks

May 18th 2019

Atmospheres of Extrasolar Planets

Prof. Matt Griffin Cardiff University, School of Physics and Astronomy.

Prof. Griffin’s talk will be on the next major step-change in investigating exo-planet atmospheres. ARIEL, (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey) selected by ESA to analyze the atmospheric composition and true nature of distant worlds is planned to be launched on an Ariane 6 in 2028.

After the coffee break announcements and members activities.

Atmospheres of planets and moons in our solar system

24th May – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Details posted on ‘next meetings’ column on home page.
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Fundamental Knowledge for the Observer

If it’s in the ‘O’ level syllabus it will be in this talk. Not strictly true but over the next few summer meetings we will get stuck into the topics which are the foundations of astronomy.

Double stars are not just a category for a catalogue title. They are fundamental in understanding all stars and will lead the talk into basics of stellar energy.

We are open to suggestions for subjects
After the break….
Members’ activities and talks

June 15th 2018

AGM Night

Including the Annual General Meeting.

Have your say in running the society. Stand for election for posts. Lively discussion. Definitely not boring!

Followed by a talk

Kenelm England ReadingAS and Society for History of Astronomy

Astronomical Centenaries in 2019:

1919. 1819….YY19

Following Ken’s entertaining talk a year ago, astronomical progress throughout history at 100 year intervals based on the centenaries of the year ’19’

EAST READING FESTIVAL Palmer Park

Sunday 23rd June

Reading Astronomical Society stand.

Exhibition and solar observing.

We will be attending this annual local event with our telescopes suitably filtered for safe observing of sunspots and other activity on our local star.

Images of previous event.

LOCATION MAP

28th June – Friday Club

With Gerry hopefully away eclipse chasing Rob Peeling is ‘in the chair’

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Details posted on ‘next meetings’ column on home page.
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
Provisional: This month’s topic…..

Dr Peter Cook Dept of Meteorology UoR

Atmospheres of planets and moons in our solar system

PLUS:After the break….
Members activities, equipment checks, practical stuff. Bring you problems

26th July – Friday Club

Doors open at 7pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm
Details posted on ‘next meetings’ column on home page.
Entry is free and open to the public, all welcome, all ages.
This month’s topic…..

Black Holes

A new talk by Brian Skidmore

PLUS: After the break….
There was a total solar eclipse this month. We hope to have some images from members.

Mercury Transit 2019 Nov 11

300 year anniversary of death of John Flamsteed 2019 Dec 31

Parking is available in the hall car park.

Typical meeting timings are….

7.00 – 8.30pm :: Announcements and speaker as detailed above.

8.30 – 9.00pm :: Refreshments and an opportunity to chat and browse the library.

9.00 – 9.45pm :: Miscellany of topics by members.