.org Feb-Apr 2010 AstroSouth Issue 03 Quarterly t D i r e c t o r y ISSN 2040-8609

The free Astronomy Directory for East Anglia, the Home Counties, South of England and the West Country

SABRE Engine the future of Hyper-travel?

Space Tourism Virgin Galactic prepares for 2011 launch

New UK Space Agency Announced!

Astronomical Insurance! Which way works?

80+ Astronomy Groups across the South!

Up to date news & info on astronomy and space across the whole of the South of England every quarter news | reviews | space | what’s on | out there TM www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org

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AstroSoutht AstroSoutht AstroSouth Directory ISSN 2040-8609

If you want to find your nearest astronomical Cover: Peveril Point, Dorset - The ‘Druid’s’ Tree and Orion the Hunter - New Years Day 2010 - Picture Graham Green the community group, you can find them from here by County... AstroSouth Feb-Apr 2010 issue 03 Sussex - P40 contents Astronomy Groups of Southern UK Adur AS AstroSouth Feb-Apr 2010 issue 03 Berkshire - P6-7 Herschel AS, Maidenhead AS, Newbury AAS, Reading East Sussex - P40-42 AS, Foredown Tower Astronomers, Crawley AS, News Page 4 Eastbourne AS, Lewes Astronomers, Wealden AS, AstroSouth - Serious hand-holding... Cornwall - P10 East Sussex AS, Wadhurst & Ticehurst AS Cornwall AS, Brannel AS, Callington Community AS, First Contact West Sussex - P42-43 Features Devon - P11, P13 Horsham AS, Brighton & Hove AS, Worthing AS, South Insight Page 8-9 Welcome to the AstroSouth Directory – judging by the Norman Lockyer OS, North Devon AS, Plymouth AS, Downs AS, Worthing Astronomers Astronomy Group Insurance amount of readers who Tiverton & Mid Devon AS, Torbay AS, Bridgend AS, Review Page 20-21 Wiltshire - P44 downloaded our last issue I can Dorset - P14 Wiltshire AS, Swindon Stargazers INTECH Telescope Amnesty Jan 2010 only conclude that astronomy Wessex AS Preview Page 22-23 is becoming more popular. Channel Islands - P45 2010 Planned Events - Updated Recent and increasing media Essex - P15-16 Guernsey AS, Jersey AC coverage can only help in making Clacton & District AA, North Essex AS, Castlepoint AC, Cover Story Page 50-53 astronomy more mainstream. Loughton AS, Thurrock AS, Havering AS Above the M4 Skylon & the SABRE Engine IYA 2009 has raised the bar Space News Page 64 on communication for pretty Hampshire P17-18 Bedfordshire - P46 Andover AS, Basingstoke AS, Cody AS, HantsAstro, Cranfield AS, Bedford AS, Luton AS New UK Space Agency announced much every astronomical society Hampshire AG, Solent AA, Southampton AS, News Page 66-67 across the UK. If you’re feeling a Bristol - P47 Virgin Galactic Unveils Mothership tiny bit patriotic, did you know Bristol AS Isle of Wight - P19 the UK Space Industry has been Vectis AS one of the few sectors that has Buckinghamshire - P48-49 New Section - Space Industry South Page 68-75 Aylesbury AS, Milton Keynes AS, Wycombe AS grown during the Recession? It is Kent P26-27 second only to the US in Space Ashford AS, Cranbrook & District Science & AS, Cambridgeshire - P54 Science. It employs some 68,000 Crayford Manor House AS, South East Kent AS, Cambridge AS, Papworth AC, Peterborough AS, Sawtry & TM people and adds several billion District AS Orpington AS, Mid Kent AS Contacts and Details pounds to our economy. It is also set to continue to grow. Which London - P28 Gloucestershire - P55 David Woods - Editor & Publisher West of London AS, Flamsteed AS, Astronomical Cotswold AS is why we are introducing a iodesign ltd - www.iodesign.co.uk Society of Haringey new Space Industry section that Hertfordshire - P57 highlights the innovations that Letchworth & District AS, South West Hertfordshire AS AstroSouth Editorial t Oxfordshire - P29 David Woods - [email protected] are taking place right on your Abingdon AS, Chipping Norton AS Northamptonshire - P58 Web Site: - www.astrosouth.org doorstep in Southern England. Northampton AS, Northamptonshire Natural History Tel: 023 9261 7092 Fax: 023 9257 0283 Skype: HantsAstro Somerset - P36-37 Society, Northants AA Post: AstroSouth.org 11 Drift Road, Clanfield, Hants PO8 0JJ The future is already here. Beckington AS, Crewkerne & District AS, South AstroSouth Electronic e-Directory is published quarterly ISSN 2040-8609 Norfolk - P60 This eZine is published on behalf of HantsAstro.orgTM. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Somerset AS, Bridgewater AS TM the Editor, Publisher, Sponsors or Advertisers of AstroSouth. HantsAstro is a society member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies Enjoy the read. Norwich AS, Breckland AS, North Norfolk AS (www.fedastro.org.uk). Where Links take you to other sites, the Editor, Publisher and Webmaster cannot be held responsible for the content of those sites. HantsAstro.orgTM, AstroSouth and Look Up! e-Zine and related devices are protected by registered copyright. Surrey - P38-39 ©2009 All Rights Reserved. HantsAstroTM a trading name of I.O Design Limited. Suffolk 62 No reproduction of any material is permitted without express permission of the respective owners. Farnham AS, Guildford AS, Richmond & Kew AS, Ewell Orwell AS (Ipswich), Stour AS (Suffolk) David Woods AS, Croydon AS Contributors:/behind the scenes: Graham Green, Sharon Rose, Elaine Long, Richie Jarvis, HantsAstro CoreTeam & Willow. Publisher – AstroSouth.org 02 03 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Nearly every astronomical society has However, there is another way; with a public outreach program and this has over 200 active astronomy groups The internet is playing a key role for astronomy groups in terms NEWS been highlighted in the past year. Many throughout the UK it is an untapped of marketing, event and revenue generation. groups have now actively embraced the network for the British space rewarding tasks of engaging the public industry to become more exposed in astronomy. I should say amateur to the public. A lot of our industrial astronomy, as there are few people manufacturing base has now been who are lucky enough to do this for exported abroad, however we still a living. But the UK space industry is possess a unique blend of innovation ripe for growth, and if we encourage and engineering excellence. This allows parents and children to think about the us to punch above our weight although potential of a career in this particular it’s hampered by lack of funding. Last field, then maybe astronomy is the year’s science budget cut of £80 million initial spark of interest that could serves to remind us all that this is the develop into a career within the space real issue. I remember tweeting at industry. the beginning of the year - that if this was 2010 why aren’t we all charging Super Duper Spaceyness around like Hans Solo from Star Wars AstroSouth in our own rocket ship? We need Serious Hand-holding Sir Frank Whittle invented the jet engine more people to think about space which was just coming in to service at and astronomy, we need more people First I’m going to make a prediction the end of World War II, and during the working in it and we also need our that 2010 is going to be an even better 1950s and 60s NASA was working on Government to have a vision of a future group data every issue and this takes that enable so many to reap the Astronomy may never become a year for astronomy! Across the south scramjet technologies for hypersonic that allows us to escape the cradle of some time. For a quarterly publication rewards of getting involved in a local mainstream hobby like gardening for of the UK many groups and societies transport. I cannot fail to mention the Earth. This year sees a milestone we thought the frequency would be astronomy group. The most common example, but what could become benefited from media coverage of the Concorde, which first flew in the late when Virgin Galactic commences its enough to ensure that our contact problem is a lack of volunteers and mainstream is the consciousness of International Year of Astronomy 2009. 1960s until its early and unfortunate initial testing on what will be the first information for all groups would be without them it becomes a vicious thought that astronomy and the space It wasn’t as great as some had hoped, demise in 2003. Then during the 70s commercial space flight service with correct. This is based on the response circle, because without enough hands industry are linked and that for a but if you’ve noticed, what’s been and 80s there was a flurry of concepts regular flights commencing in 2011. It’s that we have from individually mailing to help run the group it can render number of commercial, scientific and building in terms of awareness through to do with hypersonic transport which, not quite science fiction but it’s about each of their respective committees, itself ineffective within a few seasons. environmental reasons they both have the media over the past six months if you pardon the pun, never got off to become science fact. and out of the 80 groups that are listed With larger groups it’s not always a much greater part to play in our is a growing shift towards astronomy the ground usually because of a lack within AstroSouth, just over three- possible to exist on subscription fees society than a lot of people realise. If and space industries in general. The of vision from the Government at the Closer to home quarters responded. Don’t worry, alone and as we allegedly climb out you’ve read this much and I haven’t lost UK is right up there with some of the time. During the 50s and 60s we also we’re working on getting the rest of recession, donations and grants are you, then maybe we can assist in this best countries in the world in terms had potential as a country to develop This third issue of the directory together, but the feedback we have had much thinner on the ground than they change. of telecommunications and some of an innovative rocket programme; has thrown up some interesting so far is that some groups are sadly in used to be. Somehow I don’t think this our home-grown talent is currently unfortunately this also petered out due information. We are, as yet, the only decline, partly due to the recession but will change any time soon either. I will let you know at the end of the working with NASA on space to a lack of support. astronomy publication that updates also the costs of membership. So join year how successful we have all been as exploration projects to the Moon and your local Astronomy Group and muck Raising revenue is now a big thing. a community in getting this important other planets. in! And I know I will get shot for this, but message across Amateur Astronomy & Aerospace should work together, we astronomy groups (in fact all hobby As an astronomical society we should just need to find a way how. Business Thinking groups) are effectively providing a I always very much look forward to do what we can to promote the British service for a fee and as such, it’s a form receiving more comments and views space industry. It doesn’t generally get As we do our quarterly trawl through of social enterprise. Effectively it is a and also look forward to publishing a great deal of public awareness, as a all the society websites, we have business, it has overheads and it has some other voices within the ever lot of its work is carried out in sterile noticed that many have been busy over revenue so therefore has to work to improving ‘AstroSouth Directory’. environments and behind closed the past year revamping their websites budget. Its workforce is its committee doors. But a lot of the technology that and improving their communications. and its volunteers. I said it’s a hobby and So – please e-mail me your stories, we utilise in terms of astronomy is There are also a number that have not a job, this is very true and it’s best to images, letters, seminar details and directly linked to this industry. Without not but I do wonder, when playing think of it in those terms, but wouldn’t events to: david.woods@hantsastro. their ingenuity and hard work we devil’s advocate, what the current it be better if astronomy groups could org would know less about the cosmos, so state of those groups is. As with all also see it as a form of passive service I believe we should be working hand- amateur astronomers - it’s a hobby not industry, one that provides a service Wishing you Clear Dark Skies, in-hand with them. a job and respect is due to all those to its membership and another which committee members and people that is more publicly based? Anything else David Woods Astronomers today can be the work in the background making your means possibly making a loss or doing AstroSouth.org scientists and astronauts of tomorrow. local astronomy group work. Usually, it on a purely philanthropic basis. January 2010 Picture: EADS Astrium/images MasterImage 2007 it’s the tireless work of a few people 04 05 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org AstroSouth AstroSoutht AstroSouth AstroSouth t t t Berkshire Feb-Apr 2010 Berkshire Feb-Apr 2010

Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of B is for: Big Bang! The theory that suggests that the universe was formed so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. from a single point in space during a cataclysmic explosion about 18 billion years take place across the South of England. Please check relevant Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! ago. The force of the explosion accounts for the current expansion of the universe. England. Please check relevant web site for updates and The Large Hadron Collider is trying to discover how this started, by finding the web site for updates and contact details. somewhat elusive ‘God’ Particle... contact details.

Herschel Astronomy Society The Royal www.herschel-astrosoc.co.uk The Royal Reading Astronomical Society www.readingastro.org.uk Observatory Greenwich [email protected] Observatory Greenwich www.twitter.com/ReadingAS National Maritime Museum, National Maritime Museum, Formed in 1966, they have a band of active astronomers and a full programme [email protected] Greenwich, London SE10 9NF of lectures. Meetings are held every second Friday of the month in Eton, close Greenwich, London SE10 9NF A brand new 120 seated to the Society Observatory in Common Lane. Please contact their secretary A brand new 120 seated The Reading AS has two groups, a main section which meets at St. Peter’s planetarium, for the precise address. For further information you can contact them by planetarium, Church Hall, Church Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 1EY, and an ‘astro-basics’ phone: 020 8312 6565 e-mail or go to their website. phone: 020 8312 6565 section which meet at the Lodden Room, Dinton Pastures Country Park, website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Davis Street, Hurst, Reading RG10 0TH email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Maidenhead Astronomical Society They hold public observing sessions throughout the year. For more information The Astronomy please go to their website or email them at: [email protected] www.maidenhead-astro.net INTECH Science Centre Road Show [email protected] + Planetarium Sittingbourne, Kent Winchester, Hants This society has been going since 1957 and offer a broad spectrum of We can travel up to 150 miles astronomical activities. Meetings are on the first Friday of each month from Kent. We can incorporate from September to June, in the Church Hall, St James-the-Less, Stubbings, Cost £2 per show in other subjects in our shows Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 6QW. Please go to their website for further details. addition to exhibition entry Over 100GB of material is Cost - £6.95 Adults available as well as models, £4.65 under 14 geology samples & meteorites Check site for schedule for the shows. Newbury Amateur Astronomical Society www.intech-uk.com www.newburyas.org.uk phone:01795 420 372 www. twitter.com/Newburyas Hershel Museum www.astronomyroadshow.com [email protected] of Astronomy astroroadshow@blueyonder. Various Monthly Shows This society was founded in 1981 and are based in Newbury, West Berkshire co.uk Check site for details + times and welcome members and non-members alike of all ages and abilities to all their meetings. There are two sides to this society – the speakers section and and booking Events the beginners section which is open to all ages and abilities. They also observe http://www.bath-preservation- If you have any talks or events trust.org.uk/index.php?id=8 you wish to be included in this from other local dark sky sites and have a range of their own telescopes. listing then please get in touch. These meetings are held on the first Friday of each month from September to June and start at 7.30pm. Location: United Reformed Church Hall Pembroke Street (off West Street) Newbury . Events Acrobat Tip: You can click on any If you have any talks or events weblink within the AstroSouth The Beginners Meetings are held at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Greenham, every you wish to be included in this Directory to take you to that site! third Wednesday of the month. See their website for further details. listing then please get in touch.

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 06 07 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Words: David Woods behalf of that group. He or she groups. The last thing you would Picture: Graham Green Go forth and tender! is not a member of the public so want to be facing is a £1,000 plus Astronomy would not be covered under PLI. insurance bill when starting out as a As part of my own tendering Simply put – anyone involved with new astronomy group! process I undertook to research an activity to do with the operation over two dozen astronomy groups of a hobby group is not covered to Markel’s Community Groups policy Group Insurance to find out what sort of cover they the same level as a member of the is pretty comprehensive and offers had in place. Nearly all responded public. Logically your members are Employer Liability up to ten million ... what exactly is PLI? and were helpful in acting as a members, not the public – and are pounds, along with PLI up to five benchmark. I don’t think this therefore not covered. I thought it million pounds and is specifically Now – I’m going to do non-profit making or commercial a well equipped astronomy group exercise has ever been carried out was a bit of a grey area until I spoke structured for groups who also operation, Public Liability covers and discovered that not only were in the astronomy community before to a few qualified members of the provide Public Outreach and are the impossible! I am going anyone visiting a site but it does they paying too much for their or since. I did this in 2007. Some insurance profession. society based. Also included is to attempt to write an interesting not cover employees or volunteers insurance, but that they were also groups just had basic PLI (Public This article has also been sent off to one million pounds of Professional article about insurance. If the related to your ‘business’. By inadequately covered in terms of Liability Insurance cover), others had the ‘powers that be’ to be checked Liability which gives peace of mind title of this article doesn’t put you business - this includes the humble buildings, contents and Professional gone further to insure equipment for compliance. After all – I don’t for Officers. MarkelUKAssist is a off – then please read on and I’ll astronomy group. I have had Indemnity. The real lesson here is and observatories. want the facts to be miss-construed. free resource within their package share with you what I have found heated debates with committee that the value of a decent insurance I discovered that there is, in fact, that offers professional help and out about the enthralling world of members in the past regarding the policy cannot be under-estimated tailor made insurance for hobby The truth is out there.... advice which covers CRB/SCRO Public Liability insurance! Guess ‘commercial’ taboo that surrounds and therefore should not be treated and leisure groups that not only background checks and even PR what? Like its funky title – it covers a volunteer group. It provides a casually. It is an unfortunate sign of covers PLI and ELI (Employer When benchmarking my existing Crisis Management! (Hopefully it the public ONLY. service in return for a subscription the times that we live in a blame Liability Insurance), but also covers policy against other groups I found will never be that bad). I really like fee and if it’s big enough it will work culture and as the saying goes – committee members as well - I’ll that many societies did not go to the fact that their policy information Many astronomy groups and their to budgets and have accounts. where there’s blame there’s a claim! explain the differences shortly. It is tender for insurance. Up until is clear and easy to read. committees may wrongly assume To all intents and purposes, legally also possible to protect the officers recently, insurance policies that gave that Public Liability cover protects it’s a business, profit making or If any group has not done so – then of the group and indemnify them astronomy groups comprehensive An Officer and a Gentleman.... everyone to do with a group, not not. Apologies if this startling logic I would advise them to go out to as, by law, the officers are the legal cover were quite expensive, which just the public but the members as upsets anyone out there. tender and shop around for the entity of any hobby based group is perhaps why they were beyond As officers or founders of our well. I discovered to my shock and Two years ago I was secretary for best deal. such as astronomy. the consideration of many groups, own community groups, every horror that this is a myth. Like any so tendering out for quotes was organisation has a responsibility Volunteers are not employees – or limited. Insurance companies are in to its membership and within are they? the business of understanding risk, their subscription fee an amount and one such company presented is probably already being used to Let me illustrate a hypothetical by our broker was Markel, who protect that member in terms of example. A volunteer fixes an offers a policy specifically tailored insurance. I say – that’s not always observatory dome but slips and to volunteer organisations. Their the case and should be checked. falls, breaking his leg and is off work policy comprehensively covers To offer best value for everyone for 6 weeks. Now we all know volunteers, officers and the general concerned we owe it to ourselves that astronomy is not an extreme public. It can also be customised and to the group to provide the sport, however accidents can and to include equipment and buildings, very best service available. Because do happen. The question is – which would protect even the best fundamentally, any volunteer who would be liable? Does that equipped astronomy groups in the organisation is providing a service unfortunate volunteer sue against country. Starting at £350 for a for a fee somewhere down the line. an astronomy group that did not policy that covers a group such as provide adequate safety and ours, it works out at just over £1.50 For further information on equipment? I’m not claiming that a day. Astronomy Groups Insurance please this has actually happened but even give Karen Cowen of de Mellow & slipping on wet grass can result in a Other existing major insurance Co a call on 02392 595922 to find sprained ankle or worse. companies also offer comprehensive out more about specific astronomy Any volunteer is usually working policies but their minimum group cover. unpaid for their hobby group and premiums can be prohibitive and is therefore providing a service on exceed the funds available to many

08 09 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org AstroSouth.org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org AstroSouth t t t t Cornwall Feb-Apr 2010 Devon Feb-Apr 2010

Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, D is for: Dwarf Planet. A celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive take place across the South of so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. take place across the South of enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not cleared its neighbouring region Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! England. Please check relevant of planetesimals and is not a satellite. It has to have sufficient mass to overcome England. Please check relevant web site for updates and rigid body forces and achieve hydrostatic equilibrium. Pluto is considered to be a web site for updates and contact details. dwarf planet, as there was a recent re-classification of what a planet is. contact details.

Norman Lockyer Observatory Society Cornwall Astronomy Society Explore@Bristol www.cornwallas.org.uk www.normanlockyer.org Planetarium [email protected] Norman Lockyer [email protected] Observatory & Bristol The CAS is a friendly, relaxed group of amateur enthusiasts with interests Planetarium A massive site established in 1912 with many domes and lots of history. They Various Monthly Visits Shows in many areas of astronomy, cosmology, observing and telescope building.. Sidmouth, Devon hold public events and have their own planetarium! Also into radio astronomy Check site for details + times Meetings are held at the WI Hall in Mabe on the second Tuesday and fourth Various Monthly Visits Shows and the site of the annual South West Astronomy Fair (August). and booking Thursday of the month at 7.45pm. Please contact [email protected] for Check site for details + times For details of all meetings, open days and events please check their website or Cost - £11.90 Adults more information and booking email [email protected] £7.70 under 16s Cost - £5 Adults http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ £2.50 under 16s Education/Planetarium.htm Brannel Astronomy http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ North Devon Astronomical Society www.ndastros.org www.brannelastronomy.com Home~EN.php [email protected] Information for this group unavailable at time of publication. INTECH Science Centre Formed in 1998 and initially part of the Roseland Observatory, Brannel Space Odyssey Please go to their website for details. + Planetarium Astronomy moved its meeting location to Brannel School in St. Stephens. Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, Winchester, Hants They have an array of telescopes at their disposal and several members have Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG fixed observatories. Meetings, commencing at 7.30pm, are held in the staff phone: 0844 335 1353 Plymouth Astronomical Society Cost £2 per show in room at Brannel School on the 3rd Friday of every month throughout the website: [email protected] addition to exhibition entry year and on the 1st Fridays during the winter. Generally 3rd Fridays have a www.spaceodyssey.co.uk Cost - £6.95 Adults speaker either from within the club or visiting from other clubs, universities, email: This is a medium sized group (about 40 members). Anyone interested in joining £4.65 under 14 etc. During the summer weekend events are held each month and occasional [email protected] the PAS are invited to go along to one of their meetings, which are held at the Check site for schedule ad-hoc meetings, such as Meteor Watches are also held. Glynis Kingham Centre, Alfred St.(off Lockyer St. Behind the Y.W.C.A) on the www.intech-uk.com second Friday of each month, starting at 7:30pm.

Callington Community Astronomy Group Explore@Bristol www.callington-astro.org.uk Planetarium Tiverton & Mid Devon Astronomy Society Events [email protected] Bristol www.tivas.org.uk Various Monthly Visits Shows [email protected] If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this An active group with a lot of experience, CCAG meet at Callington Check site for details + times listing then please get in touch. Community College, adjacent to the Sportshall car park. Opposite the car and booking Beginning in 1985 this group has become very active with a full observing park are two portable classrooms. The second is the Space Centre where Cost - £11.90 Adults and lecture programme. Meetings are held in the main hall at Blundell’s Prep their Astronomy Group meet. They welcome any level of experience, £7.70 under 16s School (formerly St. Aubyn’s School) at 7:30pm, usually on the first school- from complete beginner to professional astronomer. Their club nights are http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ term Friday of the month. No previous knowledge of astronomy is necessary, usually once a month. Please contact [email protected] for Education/Planetarium.htm so if you’re at all interested they will give you a warm welcome. Please check information of meetings and events etc or go to their website. their website for directions and contacts.

Events If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest listing then please get in touch. information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 10 11 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org t t Devon Feb-Apr 2010

Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. Planetarium shows and events Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! take place across the South of England. Please check relevant web site for updates and contact details. Torbay Astronomical Society Cover for everyone www.torbayastro.org.uk [email protected] [email protected] Norman Lockyer Observatory & They have a full programme of lectures and practical observing, and were Planetarium not just Joe Public founded in 1956. All meetings are held at: Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, Sidmouth, Devon Shiphay Manor Drive, Torquay TQ2 7EL. One meeting per month (generally on Various Monthly Visits Shows the first Thursday) is primarily an ‘observational’ event. Their other monthly Check site for details + times Public Liability Insurance is the minimum cover you should have for your astronomy group but don’t you meeting (generally on the third Thursday) is a ‘lecture’ event. Lecture meetings and booking really need more? Depending on what you do as a Group, you may do. have an illustrated talk, informal discussions and observational reports, etc. Cost - £5 Adults They welcome non-members. £2.50 under 16s AstroSure covers not just members of the public – we cover your entire group, from committee members http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ to officers and volunteers within your organisation. We can specifically cover telescopes both on-site and at public events. We also offer buildings cover including observatories if required. Bridgend Astronomical Society Home~EN.php www.bridgendastronomicalsociety.co.uk Our comprehensive policy includes: They have a programme of interesting lectures scheduled throughout the Space Odyssey General Liability (Public & Products Liability) Limit £1,000,000 year. Their meeting place for lectures is at PARC SLIP NATURE RESERVE, Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, Professional Liability Limit £250,000 Aberkenfig, on the 2nd Friday of each month between September and May at Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG Management Liability Limit £250,000 7.30pm. Observation sessions are planned for remaining clear Friday nights. phone: 0844 335 1353 Entity Defence (for Officers of the Group) Limit £25,000 Please go to their website for online form and further details of events. website: Employers Liability (for your volunteers) Limit £10,000,000 www.spaceodyssey.co.uk Personal Accident Limit £5,000 email: Business Interruption Limit £5,000 [email protected] And much more.....

This cover has been specially designed for Community Groups that provide a service, be it a charitable or non-charitable status society. Events With comprehensive cover starting from just £350 per annum we offer one of the lowest insurance If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this solutions to Astronomy Groups. We tailor the cover to your exact needs. It costs you nothing to find listing then please get in touch. out more. For further details of this policy please visit our website or get in touch with our Community Insurance Specialist – Karen Cowen on 023 9259 5922 or email: [email protected] www.astrosure.com

AstroSure is managed by de Mellow & Co. Insurance Brokers Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services AstroSure Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest Authority. Registered No. 449352 Registered in England & Wales. Registered Name: de Mellow & Co Insurance Brokers Ltd. information and Press Releases to: [email protected] Registered No 5696174. Registered Office: 32 Drift Road, Clanfield,aterlooville, W Hants PO8 0JL 12 13 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org t t t t Dorset Feb-Apr 2010 Essex Feb-Apr 2010

Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, E is for: Equinox The two points at which the Sun crosses the celestial equator so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. take place across the South of in its yearly path in the sky. The equinoxes occur on or near March 21 and take place across the South of Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! England. Please check relevant September 22. The equinoxes signal the start of the Spring and Autumn seasons. England. Please check relevant web site for updates and Star parties at Kelling Heath are based around two of these events. For more info web site for updates and contact details. visit www.starparty.org.uk contact details.

Clacton & District Astronomical Association Wessex Astronomical Society INTECH Science Centre Southend Planetarium www.clactonastronomy.co.uk www.wessex-astro.org.uk + Planetarium Central Museum, [email protected] [email protected] Winchester, Hants Victoria Avenue, Cost £2 per show in Southend on Sea, Interesting web site with a great meeting programme. The CDAA are a The society meets regularly at 7:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month addition to exhibition entry Essex SS2 6ES small informal group who meet at the ‘Friends Meeting House’, Gran- at The Allendale Community Centre, Hanham Road Wimborne, Dorset Cost - £6.95 Adults phone: 01702 434449 ville Road, Clacton-on-Sea at 7.30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each BH21 1AS. Visitors or new members of all ages and abilities are very £4.65 under 14 website: month (except August) In addition to the main events, there are also welcome at their regular meetings Check site for schedule www.southendmuseums.co.uk Monthly presentations. New Members & visitors are always wel- www.intech-uk.com email: museums@southend. come. See their website for more details. gov.uk

Southdowns Planetarium North Essex Astronomical Society Chichester, West Sussex Southdowns Planetarium www.neas.me.uk Various Monthly Shows The Royal http://twitter.com/northessexastro Check site for details + times Observatory Greenwich [email protected] and booking National Maritime Museum, Cost - £6 Adults Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Originally founded in 1980 their monthly meetings are held on the £4 under 16s A brand new 120 seated third Wednesday of each month (apart from August and December) www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt planetarium, doors are open from 19:30hrs for the talk or other activities to start phone: 020 8312 6565 at 20:00hrs. They have their own observatory with a 12” Meade website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk LX200. Public meetings are held at the Henry Dixon Hall, Rivenhall email: [email protected] End, Witham, CM8 3HR. For further details please contact Roger Humm (email above). Space Odyssey Salisbury Star Party - Planned for August 2010 Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, The Obervatory Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG Science Centre Castlepoint Astronomy Club phone: 0844 335 1353 Herstmonceux, www.cpac.org.uk website: Hailsham [email protected] www.spaceodyssey.co.uk Admission £7.70/£5.70 email: Check site for schedule They are a very active group and hold weekly club meetings most [email protected] and opening dates Wednesdays at 8:00pm at St Michael’s Church, St Michael’s Road, Daws www.the-observatory.org/ Heath, Hadleigh, Essex. Please contact their Secretary (email above) for details of all meetings and Club events. Events

If you have any talks or events Events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest If you have any talks or events information and Press Releases to: [email protected] you wish to be included in this 14 15 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org AstroSouth.org AstroSouth.org AstroSoutht t AstroSoutht t Essex Feb-Apr 2010 Hampshire & IOW Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Andover Astronomical Society Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of take place across the South of www.andoverastronomy.org.uk so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! [email protected] web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. contact details. Founded in 1995 and have regular meetings from September to March and have a recently revised website. The society meet in the Grateley Loughton Astronomical Society village hall and hold meetings on the third Thursday of each month from The Royal Island Planetarium www.las-astro.org.uk September through to April. They do not currently meet in the summer Observatory Greenwich and Dr. Robert Hooke [email protected] months. All meetings start at 7:45pm. Please see their website or contact National Maritime Museum, Exhibition their secretary for more information. Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Fort Victoria Country Park, Excellent new website with lots of info. Loughton are heavily involved A brand new 120 seated Westhill Lane, Yarmmouth, Isle with Kelling Heath (www.starparty.org.uk). The Loughton Astronomical Basingstoke Astronomical Society planetarium, of Wight, PO41 0RRA Society (LAS) meet on Thursday evenings between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. www.basingstokeas.org.uk phone: 020 8312 6565 Evening Astronomy Lectures/ in the Scout Hall, off Loughton Lane, Theydon Bois, Essex (next to the [email protected] website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Shows, Stargazing Evenings and Cricket Club). If you are serious about astronomy and want to learn email: [email protected] Courses. See web site then why not go along and see them. New members very welcome. Formed in 2004, and now with over 50 members, meetings are for full details held on the 4th Thursday of each month at Cliddesden Primary phone:0800 1958295 School, Cliddesden, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG25 2QU. Regular talks The Obervatory or 01983 761555 Thurrock Astronomical Society and observing sessions. Please go along – you will be made very welcome. Science Centre www.islandplanetarium.co.uk www.thurrockastronomy.com For further details please contact their Secretary John Stapleton or see Herstmonceux, email:enquiry@ [email protected] their website. Hailsham islandastronomy.co.uk Admission £7.70/£5.70 Started in 1997 by a keen bunch of astronomers, meetings are held on Cody Astronomical Society Check site for schedule the first Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm, at the Methodist Hall, www.codyastrosoc.co.uk and opening dates Norman Lockyer High Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex SS17 8LN. Their members [email protected] www.the-observatory.org/ Observatory & range from absolute beginners to experienced astronomers and new Planetarium members are always welcome. Monthly events include talks. This group is open to members of Qinetiq and DSTL. Limited Sidmouth, Devon Please go to their website for further details. membership is offered to the public as it’s based on a secure site. The Various Monthly Visits Shows society arranges evening club nights/observing sessions during year. Check site for details + times Havering Astronomical Society These are held at the Cody Observatory at Farnborough. Please check and booking www.havastro.co.uk their website for details. Events Cost - £5 Adults £2.50 under 16s Formed in 1994 and now with over 40 members, their meetings are Hampshire Astronomical Group If you have any talks or events http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ held on the third Wednesday of the month at Cranham Community you wish to be included in this www.hantsastro.org.uk Home~EN.php Centre, Marlborough Gardens, Cranham, Essex. 7.30 pm. During the listing then please get in touch. [email protected] course of a year they arrange many activities, such as outings to places of astronomical interest such as Herstmonceux Science Centre and The largest amateur observatory complex in the UK, it boasts 6 Events the Jodrell Bank radio telescope facility, and many “star-party” meetings telescopes in 5 domes. Now entering their 50th year they cover most at a dark-sky site in nearby Weald Park, Brentwood. They are heavily things astronomical. Activities include: lectures and public open evenings If you have any talks or events into astro imaging. New members are very welcome. as well as imaging and training. Club night is held at the observatory you wish to be included in this Please see their website for contact details. each Friday night, except for the second Friday of each month when listing then please get in touch. they arrange a public lecture with outside speakers, in the Clanfield Memorial Hall. Please contact Carol Bryan for more details or go to their website.

16 17 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org AstroSouth.org t AstroSouth t t t Hampshire & IOW Feb-Apr 2010 Hampshire & IOW Feb-Apr 2010

Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events H is for: Hubble’s Law The law of physics that states that the farther a H is also for: Hydrogen An element consisting of one electron and one take place across the South of galaxy is from us, the faster it is moving away from us. proton. Hydrogen is the lightest of the elements and is the building block of the take place across the South of England. Please check relevant universe. Stars form from massive clouds of hydrogen gas. England. Please check relevant web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. contact details.

Isle of Wight The Royal Southdowns Planetarium HantsAstro Observatory Greenwich Vectis Astronomical Society Chichester, West Sussex www.hantsastro.org National Maritime Museum, www.wightastronomy.org Various Monthly Shows www.twitter.com/hantsastro Greenwich, London SE10 9NF [email protected] Check site for details + times [email protected] A brand new 120 seated and booking [email protected] planetarium, There is a new website this year from this large group (150+ members) Cost - £6 Adults [email protected] for free e-Zine subscription phone: 020 8312 6565 who have their own bespoke observatory and clubhouse. £4 under 16s website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk They are a very active group and are the organisers of the Isle of Wight www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt They have over 200 members and were formed in 2008 . HantsAstro is email: [email protected] Star Party. Their meetings are held on the fourth Friday of every month, for anyone who has any interest in Astronomy who wishes to use this excluding December, when there is no meeting. Meetings are at the Island Planetarium as a stepping stone into something more active across Hampshire or INTECH Science Centre Newport Parish Church Centre (situated on Town Lane, Newport). and Dr. Robert Hooke beyond. They have observing sites right across Hampshire and a wide + Planetarium Please go to their website for more information and directions. Exhibition range of 10 telescopes. Heavily involved in several public events across Winchester, Hants Fort Victoria Country Park, the South, they publish the popular LookUp! e-Zine and the AstroSouth Westhill Lane, Yarmmouth, Isle Directory. E-mail Dave Woods for more info. Cost £2 per show in of Wight, PO41 0RRA addition to exhibition entry Evening Astronomy Lectures/ Cost - £6.95 Adults Shows, Stargazing Evenings and Solent Amateur Astronomers £4.65 under 14 Courses. See web site www.delscope.demon.co.uk Probably the darkest skies in the South - 11-15 March 2010 Check site for schedule for full details [email protected] Isle of Wight Star Party - www.iowstarparty.org www.intech-uk.com phone:0800 1958295 or 01983 761555 Founded in 1972 this active group have a broad range of observing and Norman Lockyer www.islandplanetarium.co.uk lecture programmes. If you would like to know more about the Society Observatory & email:enquiry@ or astronomy, or details of when the observatories are open to the Planetarium islandastronomy.co.uk public please contact [email protected] or check their Sidmouth, Devon website for information on attending events or joining. Various Monthly Visits Shows Events Check site for details + times and booking If you have any talks or events Southampton Astronomical Society Cost - £5 Adults you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. www.southampton-astronomical-society.org.uk £2.50 under 16s [email protected] http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ Home~EN.php Founded in 1924 – this is one of the oldest groups in the South. They meet on the 2nd Thursday of every month at the Edmund Kell Unitarian Church Hall, Bellvue Road, Southampton at 7.30pm and are Events always happy to welcome guests and newcomers, so please feel free to turn up or get in touch with them via their website. If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. 18 19 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Words: David Woods The third INTECH Pictures: Graham Green INTECH Telescope Amnesty has proven beyond doubt that this format really does work. I’ll explain how. Firstly, it has the Telescope Amnesty support of nearly all the groups within the vicinity of INTECH, and secondly, the telescope clinic has become a major draw to the event. On our stand at least, the majority of people visiting were amateur astronomers who wanted to get more out of their telescope.

There was a broad range of challenges too, from old Newtonian telescopes The best place to get telescope advice is your local astronomy group through to the latest computerised compound systems. There were a lot of questions that needed answering! Dr Jenny Shipway and her team at INTECH provided an ideal platform for the astronomy groups to demonstrate their expertise. Jenny also constructed an indoor ‘solar system’ with barely observable planets which people could train their telescopes on. This facility proved quite useful as, once again, the weather outside was inclement.

The quality of the astronomy groups’ stands is improving with each outing and Telescopes are people magnets and a real buzz was being generated within for some inexplicable reason, people the building due to the considerable take pictures of them. amount of knowledge available the range of ideas being exchanged. The A photograph of two photographers astronomy groups that attended were Over a dozen new members signed up at the HantsAstro stand taking photographs at a telescope Andover, Basingstoke, Cody, Guildford, amnesty... Hampshire Astronomical Group, HantsAstro and Newbury. For us it almost unimaginable sense of scale. It was great to Ironic? Sort of. was the most successful Amnesty yet Space is one big place! with ten new members signing up see more younger on the night and by post a few days If you have not been before, the people this time after the event. If a couple more local INTECH Planetarium boasts one of groups had turned up, we would have the most sophisticated imaging systems had a full house! in the UK, with 4000 pixel resolution and 6 digital projectors each linked to a The big highlight of the evening though, computer, and it can even update with was Pete Lawrence and Ninian Boyle’s real-time weather mapping. expert tour of the Spring Night Sky in the Planetarium, which was piloted For more information on this by Jenny. The audience gasped as we outstanding facility please visit: flew faster than light towards Saturn, www.intech-uk.com through the rings and back again. Seeing how the stars looked from The next one is planned for November different points in space gives you an 2010. Date: 27 January 2010 - INTECH, nr Winchester Hants 20 21 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org

5-6 February 2010 AstroFest, London 7 August 2010 – Norman .org 2010 - Events in the Run by Astronomy Now magazine, Lockyer Observatory this London based 3 day event kicks Every year they run the South West AstroSoutht off with some world-class seminars. Astronomy Fair with some very Trade stands and talks create a very eminent speakers, a planetarium Feb-Apr 2010 busy event. show, trade stalls and many activities South of England http://www.astronomynow.com/ on site. It also gives you the chance Planetarium shows and events astrofest/ to wander around their large site take place across the South of imbibing the history and technology England. Please check relevant Guildford Astronomical dating back over 130 years. http:// web site for updates and One of the largest star parties in Europe - Society, Surrey www.normanlockyer.org/ contact details. The Kelling Heath Spring Equinox 15-18 April 2010 Due to the overwhelming success Read about Kelling Heath on page 61. of their free public events at TBA- August 2010 http://www.starparty.org.uk Newlands Corner, Guildford, Salisbury Star Party Southdowns Planetarium Surrey - Guildford AS will be 2009 was a breakthrough year for Chichester, West Sussex holding more of these observing this new star party. It has been Various Monthly Shows sessions throughout 2010. Please taken over and will be run by Check site for details + times visit their website. http://www. StarGazers Lounge. Please visit and booking guildfordas.org.uk their forum for more details. http:// Cost - £6 Adults www.stargazerslounge.com £4 under 16s www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt 11-15 March 2010 – Isle of 6-17 Sept 2010 Kelling Wight Star Party Heath Autumn Equinox INTECH Science Centre This event is a real treat with some These gatherings in September + Planetarium of the darkest skies in the South. are often quoted as the largest Winchester, Hants At the Brighstone Holiday Centre star parties in Europe. They are Cost £2 per show in you can either rough it in a tent or predominantly run and organised addition to exhibition entry benefit from the creature comforts by Loughton and Norwich Cost - £6.95 Adults of a warm chalet. With lots of talks Astronomical Societies. With over £4.65 under 14 and things to do, it’s one of the 1000 astronomers pouring in from Check site for schedule highlights of the astronomy calendar. all over Europe, your reservation has www.intech-uk.com http://www.iowstarparty.org to be booked well in advance. For www.twitter.com/iowstarparty further details go to their website. Island Planetarium http://www.starparty.org.uk and Dr. Robert Hooke 15-18 April 2010 - Kelling Exhibition One of the great things about the the way) initiated a steep learning Heath Spring Equinox Several events are already in planning Fort Victoria Country Park, International Year of Astronomy curve but we have gained invaluable MoonFest by HantsAstro One of the first big star parties of as a continuation of this year’s Westhill Lane, Yarmmouth, Isle (IYA 2009) is the growing popularity experience. So, this is a breakdown As part of their DNA, IYA2009 the year. IYA2009 activities, unfortunately of Wight, PO41 0RRA of Star Party events being held of what we’ve found so far. kick started off these free public http://www.starparty.org.uk details were not available at time of Evening Astronomy Lectures/ around the country. The question events across Hampshire and will publication. Shows, Stargazing Evenings and that often arises on most Forums is, 27 January 2010 - INTECH be running until May 2010 and then (May onwards) Summer Courses. See web site how does one go about getting one Telescope Amnesty starting again as from October to 2010 – Royal Observatory This list is not exhaustive and is just for full details started? HantsAstro has a growing This popular telescope amnesty is the following year. Please visit their Greenwich a preview of some of the events to phone:0800 1958295 reputation for organising and taking now entering its third year and is website for details. http://www. This is effectively the centre for come in 2010. As they are being or 01983 761555 part in various events across the held at one of the most advanced hantasastro.org/moonfest astronomy during the summer confirmed we will be publishing www.islandplanetarium.co.uk South of England. planetariums in the UK. with lots of events, and with their them throughout the year and on email:enquiry@ During the year INTECH hold a new planetarium there (part of our new website which is currently islandastronomy.co.uk The success of our Telescope series of lectures on astronomy a £17.7m development) will also in development. If you are a society Amnesties and the recent which is well worth checking out on be some amazing shows on offer. and wish to add your events to this MoonFests (which we are their website. http://www.intech-uk. http://www.nmm.ac.uk/places/ list – then please email me expanding on for this season by com royal-observatory/ [email protected] 22 23 www.astrosouth.org .org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org t t are Education Feb-Apr 2010 we Planetarium shows and events An Astronomy course is a great way to learn about the history of this science and the night sky. Some run practical workshops as well as offering take place across the South of ASTRONOMERS you the chance of gaining a qualification. Check them out on-line or get in England. Please check relevant touch with your local Further Education Centre. web site for updates and contact details. We have listed some contacts for you below... narrated by The following qualification courses are ideal for amateur astronomers and Southdowns Planetarium are by part-time study only and are ideal for disitance learning. Chichester, West Sussex David Tennant Various Monthly Shows Do you know what an astronomer does? BIRKBECK COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Check site for details + times and booking (School of Earth Sciences) Today’s astronomer is not the lone observer of past centuries. Certificate in Planetary Geology (two-year course by class attendance): Cost - £6 Adults We Are Astronomers reveals the global collaboration, technology and www.bbk.ac.uk/es £4 under 16s dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe. www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY We Are Astronomers narrated by David Tennant is an exciting new 360° (Astrophysics Research Institute) INTECH Science Centre Fulldome digital planetarium show produced by NSC Creative with input Programme of courses in astronomy by distance learning: + Planetarium www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/distance from UK astronomers Winchester, Hants Cost £2 per show in THE OPEN UNIVERSITY (Department of Physics and Astronomy) Certificate in Astronomy and Planetary Science (by distance learning): addition to exhibition entry http://physics.open.ac.uk Cost - £6.95 Adults £4.65 under 14 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Check site for schedule (Department of Physics and Astronomy) www.intech-uk.com Diploma in Astronomy (two-year course by class attendance): www.phys.ucl.ac.uk/diploma Island Planetarium and Dr. Robert Hooke UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE Exhibition Bsc (Hons.) degree in Astronomy Fort Victoria Country Park, (by distance learning): www.StudyAstronomy.com Westhill Lane, Yarmmouth, Isle UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER - JODRELL BANK OBSERVATORY of Wight, PO41 0RRA Programme of courses in astronomy by distance learning: www.manchester. Evening Astronomy Lectures/ ac.uk/jodrellbank/distance Shows, Stargazing Evenings and Courses. See web site for full details For schools and colleges in your locality that do GCSE or intriductory as- phone:0800 1958295 tronomy courses, one of the easiest things to do is to search the web site or 01983 761555 www.hotcourse.com which lists all the courses in your area, and have www.islandplanetarium.co.uk over 1,000,000 courses available to choose from. email:enquiry@ islandastronomy.co.uk

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest A collaboration between Armagh Planetarium, Centre For Life, INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium, National Space Centre, information and Press Releases to: [email protected] Our Dynamic Earth, Royal Observatory Greenwich, Spaceport with funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council. 24 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org AstroSouth.org t AstroSouth t t t Kent Feb-Apr 2010 Kent Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, South East Kent Astronomical Society Planetarium shows and events so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. take place across the South of www.sekas.co.uk take place across the South of Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! England. Please check relevant [email protected] England. Please check relevant web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. With over 150 members this large society was formed in 1972 and has a full contact details. programme of observing sessions and talks. Public observing nights are also a frequent activity of this group with a programme of evenings specifically Ashford Astronomical Society for night-time observing. The best way to start is to attend a SEKAS meeting. www.ashfordastro.org.uk INTECH Science Centre The Royal Check their website for directions to new main venue – Bridge Village Hall. + Planetarium [email protected] Alternatively contact one of the following people. Observatory Greenwich Winchester, Hants National Maritime Museum, Recently updated website and organisers of the ‘astrobash’. If you would like Alan Buckman (Chairman) 01304 367711 Greenwich, London SE10 9NF more information on the society, meetings, locations or any other aspect of Tony Bennett (Secretary) 01843 831079 Cost £2 per show in what they do, please feel free to contact their Secretary - Jason directly A brand new 120 seated Alan Snook (Treasurer) 01304 841694 addition to exhibition entry (details below). planetarium, Cost - £6.95 Adults Jason Hall (Secretary) - 01233 637557 The AAS meet on the last Friday phone: 020 8312 6565 £4.65 under 14 of each month at Woodchurch Memorial Hall, The Green Front Road, website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Orpington Astronomical Society Check site for schedule Woodchurch. Ashford , TN26 3QB. Ashford Astronomy Club is open to all email: [email protected] www.orpington-astronomy.org.uk www.intech-uk.com age groups, backgrounds and levels of experience. Children under the age of 16 are more than welcome, if accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Obervatory This society is located to the south east of London, England. Regular talks and Science Centre meetings and open days are held. They meet every month, usually on the third The Obervatory Thursday 7.30pm to 10.00pm. Herstmonceux, Science Centre Cranbrook & District Science & Astronomy Society Please check their website for venue details. www.cadsas.com Hailsham Herstmonceux, [email protected] Admission £7.70/£5.70 Hailsham [email protected] Check site for schedule Mid Kent Astronomical Society Admission £7.70/£5.70 and opening dates www.midkentastro.org.uk Check site for schedule This fast-growing Science and Astronomy Society meet regularly at Cranbrook www.the-observatory.org/ [email protected] and opening dates School, in Cranbrook, Kent. To find out about joining or anything else – please www.the-observatory.org/ mail them at [email protected] or check their website for more details. With one of the best astronomy websites, this group started in 1977 and has a 14” telescope housed in it’s own observatory. Activities include observing Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society sessions and regular meetings, which are held at Bredhurst Village hall and www.crayfordmanorastro.com start at 7:45pm (unless otherwise noted) on the second and last Friday of the [email protected] month. Their observing sessions are held at their observatory in Canterbury. Please check their website for details. Active with workshops and meetings, they also offer a mentoring scheme. Meetings are held at The Manor House, Mayplace Road East, Crayford, Kent, Events DA1 4HB Tel: 01322 521463 Join today – see their website for more details. If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch.

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 26 27 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org AstroSouth AstroSoutht t London t t Feb-Apr 2010 Oxfordshire Feb-Apr 2010

There are a number of astronomical groups around the London Area. Don’t Planetarium shows and events O is for: Occultation An event that occurs when one celestial body conceals Planetarium shows and events let the light pollution deter you from getting involved in astronomy. These take place across the South of or obscures another. For example, a solar eclipse is an occultation of the Sun by the take place across the South of groups have a wealth of experience of getting views of the night sky and Moon. many hold talks and seminars. Light pollution filters are one way of combat- England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant ing urban sky-glow for astrophotography. web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. contact details.

West of London Astronomical Society Abingdon Astronomical Society www.wolas.org.uk The Royal www.abingdonastro.org.uk The Royal [email protected] Observatory Greenwich [email protected] Observatory Greenwich National Maritime Museum, National Maritime Museum, Founded in 1967 WOLAS now has over 170 members with a broad Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Formed in 1979 this group offers a full programme of meetings with talks, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF spectrum of observers. Monthly meetings are held in Uxbridge and A brand new 120 seated beginners’ meetings and observing sessions. AAS main meetings are at A brand new 120 seated North Harrow. If you have any questions about the society, or would planetarium, All Saints’ Methodist Church Hall, Dorchester Crescent, Abingdon on planetarium, like an information pack/membership form please contact their publicity phone: 020 8312 6565 the second Monday of each month from September to June, at 8.00pm. phone: 020 8312 6565 officer: Duncan Radbourne on the above email address. website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Beginners’ meetings are at the same venue anf time on another Monday website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk email: [email protected] in the month. Observing sessions are held in Abingdon or at darker sky email: [email protected] sites in the area. Please check their website for a detailed directions and Flamsteed Astronomy Society other information. Newcomers are very welcome. www.flamsteed.info http://twitter.com/Flamsteed [email protected] Chipping Norton Astronomical Society www.cnaag.com The Flamsteed is an amateur astronomy society based at the Royal [email protected] Observatory and National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London SE10. It is named after the first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed. If Observing takes place whenever commitments and the weather allow you would like to join the Society, which now has over 200 members, and we have the choice of several exclusive observing sites including you can let us know by completing the online form on the website or areas close to the magical Rollright Stones, a unique privilege for the you can telephone the Membership Office of the National Maritime group. There is no requirement to have any astronomical knowledge, Museum during working hours on 020 8312 6678 equipment or experience ( but if you have bring it along ), all you need to bring is your interest and enthusiasm. Whatever your level of interest, please get in touch. Contact details on the website. Astronomical Society of Haringey www.ashastro.org.uk [email protected]

Started in 1972, this group hold regular monthly lecture meetings with speakers both from the ranks of their membership and from outside. They currently meet at Ashmole School in Southgate, N14, where they will be helping with their astronomical and scientific outreach programs. Acrobat Tip: You can click on any Their meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of each month. weblink within the AstroSouth Doors open at 7.30pm. Directory to take you to that site! Please check their website for details of how to get to Ashmole School and other information.

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 28 29 www.astrosouth.org

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Because at the end of the day, your telescope is a bit of a strange beast, and needs specialist protection that a home policy might not provide... Just off the A3, south of Butser Hill, and 10 miles north of Portsmouth it ... and you can’t knock that has easy access from all points of the compass, is an hour and a half from Call Karen Cowen on 023 9259 5922 London, and twenty minutes from the South Coast. or e-mail: [email protected]. For further info and to book yourself an Annual Pass, www.telescopeinsurance.co.uk TM please contact HantsAstro on 023 9261 7092 AstroSure is managed by de Mellow & Co. Insurance Brokers Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered No. 449352 Registered in England & Wales. Registered Name: de Mellow & Co Insurance Brokers Ltd. AstroSure or by e-mail: [email protected] Registered No 5696174. Registered Office: 32 Drift Road, Clanfield,aterlooville, W Hants PO8 0JL 33 www.astrosouth.org

.org Members’ Images The Crab Nebula M1 - Richie Jarvis AstroSoutht Location: South Common Observatory in East Sussex UK. http://www.deepsky.org.uk Next Issue May 2010

Something for the weekend Sir?

Gear yourself up for the Summer observing events happening right across the UK. Process Date: 2010-02-01 More info, more news and Capture Dates: 2010-01-02, 2009-12-27, 2009-12-22, 2009-12-20, 2009-10-13, 2009-10-12 probably even more pages! Scope: Celestron C8 Camera: SXV-H9 Guide Scope: Astro Professional 102ED Subscribe today for free. Guide Camera: SX Guidehead Exposure (Ha): 12 x 10 minutes AstroSouth Directory. Exposure (OIII): 19 x 10 minutes Exposure (Hb): 14 x 10 minutes There is nothing else like it. Constellation: Taurus Actual Size: 5.5 light years across Distance: 6500 light years Visual Size: 6x4 arcminutes www.astrosouth.org Magnitude: 8.4 Other Designations: NGC1952, Sharpless2-244 34 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org AstroSouth.org AstroSouth AstroSouth.org AstroSouth t t t t Somerset Feb-Apr 2010 Somerset Feb-Apr 2010

Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, so S is for: Steady State Theory. This theory suggests the universe is take place across the South of please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. take place across the South of expanding but exists in a constant, unchanging state in the large scale, and states Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! England. Please check relevant that new matter is being continually being created to fill the gaps left by expansion. England. Please check relevant web site for updates and This theory has been abandoned by most astronomers in favour of the Big Bang web site for updates and contact details. Theory. contact details.

Beckington Astronomical Society Hershel Museum Bridgwater Astronomical Society Hershel Museum www.basnet.org.uk of Astronomy www.bwastrosoc.org.uk of Astronomy [email protected] Various Monthly Shows [email protected] Various Monthly Shows Check site for details + times Check site for details + times Formed in 1999 this 10 year old group have a varied programme of and booking Established in 1969 the BAS meet every 2nd Wed in the month, from Sept and booking Meetings and Events. They also run a basic astronomy course. BAS http://www.bath-preservation- until June, in room D10 at Bridgwater College, Bath Road, Bridgwater. http://www.bath-preservation- Meetings are held on the 3rd Friday of each month at 7.30pm at the trust.org.uk/index.php?id=8 They hold regular monthly meetings and quizzes. Please check their trust.org.uk/index.php?id=8 Beckington Baptist Church Hall, please see their website for further website for more details or contact them on the above email. details. Explore@Bristol Explore@Bristol Planetarium Planetarium Bristol Bristol Crewkerne & District Astronomical Society Various Monthly Visits Shows Various Monthly Visits Shows www.cadas.net Check site for details + times Check site for details + times [email protected] and booking and booking Cost - £11.90 Adults Cost - £11.90 Adults Formed in 2002 and now with over 40 members they are currently trying £7.70 under 16s £7.70 under 16s to establish an observatory. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ of every month starting at 7.30 pm at St Bartholomew’s Church Hall in Education/Planetarium.htm Education/Planetarium.htm Crewkerne and are open to all. Please check their website for more details. Mizar Travelling Salisbury Star Party - Planned for August 2010 - visit www. Mizar Travelling Planetarium stargazerlounge.com for more details... Planetarium Wimborne, Dorset Wimborne, Dorset South Somerset Astronomical Society The inflatable dome holds up The inflatable dome holds up http://ssas.fateback.com/home.htm to 35 and can be tailored to to 35 and can be tailored to [email protected] suit individual requirements. suit individual requirements.

Regular meetings between September and May, they also have observing phone: 01202 887 084 phone: 01202 887 084 sessions and visit places of astronomical interest. Venue: Queen’s www.mizar-astro.freeserve.co.uk www.mizar-astro.freeserve.co.uk College, Physics Lab Taunton. Formal meetings are on the second Tuesday of the months between September to May. Time: 7:30pm. For Events Events more information please contact their Secretary – John Brimble on 01823 413224 or at the above email address. If you have any talks or events If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. listing then please get in touch.

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 36 37 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSoutht t t t Surrey Feb-Apr 2010 Surrey Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of S is for: Sunspot. Areas of the Sun’s surface that are cooler than surrounding take place across the South of so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. areas. They usually appear black or darker than the surrounding area on visible England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! light photographs of the Sun. Sunspots are also usually associated with disturbances web site for updates and in the Sun’s electromagnetic field. web site for updates and contact details. contact details. Guildford Astronomical Society www.guildfordas.org Croydon Astronomical Society The Royal http://twitter.com/GuildfordAS The Obervatory www.croydonastro.org.uk Observatory Greenwich http://twitter.com/CroydonAS [email protected] Science Centre National Maritime Museum, Herstmonceux, [email protected] Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Do you have an interest in Astronomy already and want to meet like- Hailsham A brand new 120 seated minded people? Then why not go along to one of their meetings or Admission £7.70/£5.70 Croydon Astronomical Society was formed in 1953 .Lectures are held planetarium, public observing evenings. Everyone is welcome – from absolute Check site for schedule on alternate Fridays (check the website for more details) from 7:45 pm phone: 020 8312 6565 beginners to experienced observers. Their meetings are held in the and opening dates to about 10:00 p.m. in the Lecture Theatre of the Royal Russell School, website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Guildford Institute, Ward Street, Guildford, GU1 4LH, Meetings start at www.the-observatory.org/ Coombe Lane, Croydon, Surrey. The Lecture Theatre is located on the email: [email protected] lower ground floor of the Great Hall, which can be identified by the 7.30pm on the first Thursday of each month, (except August when there floodlit belfry. The entrance is on the opposite side of the building to is no meeting). Meetings usually finish around 10pm. Please check their website for more information. Events the car park at the far end. There is a large car park on the left shortly INTECH Science Centre after you drive in the gates. + Planetarium If you have any talks or events Winchester, Hants you wish to be included in this Richmond & Kew Astronomical Society Ewell Astronomical Society Cost £2 per show in listing then please get in touch. www.rkas.org.uk www.ewell-as.co.uk addition to exhibition entry [email protected] [email protected] Cost - £6.95 Adults £4.65 under 14 RKAS are a friendly astronomical society that meets on the last Friday EAS meetings are held at Nonsuch HS for Girls, Ewell Road, Cheam, Check site for schedule of each month (August excepted). Meetings are held at The Vestry Surrey on the second Friday of each month at 7.40pm. All are welcome to www.intech-uk.com their spacious ground floor meeting room for coffee & biscuits, popular House, 21 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SA. Please check speakers, plus social events. See their website for contact details etc. their website for more information. Events Farnham Astronomical Society If you have any talks or events The Great Look Up - August 2009, Guildford - 350 people. www.farnham-as.co.uk you wish to be included in this Hopefully a repeat in 2010! [email protected] listing then please get in touch. http://www.surrey.ac.uk/greatlookup/ Farnham AS are a friendly and informal society, with a membership spanning a wide range of ages and experience. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Their meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at: Willis Hall, Sandy Lane , Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 8LD. The venue opens 7.30pm for a 7.45 start. Please check their website for further details or contact their secretary Danny Thomas on the above email.

38 39 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSoutht t t t Sussex Feb-Apr 2010 Sussex Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of S is for : Supernova A supernova is a cataclysmic explosion caused when a take place across the South of so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. star exhausts its fuel and ends its life. Supernovae are the most powerful forces in England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! the universe. All of the heavy elements were created in supernova explosions. web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. contact details.

Adur Astronomical Society Lewes Astronomers The Obervatory The Obervatory http://www.adur-astronomical.com/ Science Centre http://sites.google.com/site/lewisastronomers/ [email protected] [email protected] Science Centre Herstmonceux, Herstmonceux, Hailsham Formed in 2008 this group focuses on astro photography, they meet at Meetings are held with a guest speaker on the first Wednesday of each Hailsham Admission £7.70/£5.70 Admission £7.70/£5.70 the Southwick Community Centre, Southwick, West Sussex BN42 4TE, Check site for schedule month at 8pm (excepting January, July & August) and also have practical on the first Monday of every month at 7.30pm. observing evenings when weather permits. Non-members £3.00. Check site for schedule and opening dates and opening dates www.the-observatory.org/ Meetings in 2009 will be at 7.30pm in The Town Hall Lecture Room, Lewis. Please contact Alice Smole by email for all further details. www.the-observatory.org/ East Sussex

The Royal Events Crawley Astronomical Society Observatory Greenwich Wealden Astronomical Society www.crawleyas.co.uk www.wealdenas.co.uk National Maritime Museum, If you have any talks or events [email protected] Greenwich, London SE10 9NF [email protected] you wish to be included in this A brand new 120 seated listing then please get in touch. This group has been going for over 30 years and has regular meetings and planetarium, Formed in 2006 this small club is heavily involved with Herstmonceux a news letter. The Society meets on the 3rd Friday of the month (except phone: 020 8312 6565 Observatory and Science Centre. They also have a 12” Dobsonian and July and August) at Ifield Community Centre, Ifield Drive, Crawley, West website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk have regular meetings and observing sessions. They work in collaboration Sussex RH11 0BT at 7.30pm. Please check their website for further email: [email protected] with the Observatory Science Centre, and hence can boast the most details or contact their Secretary Jim Swift .Tel 01293 882560 fantastic setting for their regular bi-monthly meetings; usually Dome B at the Observatory Science Centre Herstmonceux. Along with Eastbourne Astronomical Society meetings they arrange viewing evenings from October to April as often www.eastbourneas.org.uk Events as is possible. Please contact – [email protected] for more details [email protected] or check their website. If you have any talks or events Founded in 1960 the society now has over 100 members and has an you wish to be included in this established programme of events including lectures and observing. listing then please get in touch. East Sussex Astronomical Society Monthly meetings are held from September/October to July at www.esas.org.uk Willingdon Memorial Hall, Church Street, Willingdon, BN20 9HT. [email protected] Please check their website for dates and further information or contact their membership secretary Bob Cripps on the above email. This established group boasts meetings and observing sessions at St Mary’s School and College, Bexhill-on-Sea. They meet on the first Thursday of each Month (excluding August - see below ) at 8:00 – 10:00 pm. Please check their website for more details.

40 41 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSoutht t t t Sussex Feb-Apr 2010 Sussex Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of S is also for: Synchronous Rotation. A period of rotation of a satellite take place across the South of so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. about its axis that is the same as the period of its orbit around its primary. This England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! causes the satellite to always keep the same face to the primary. Our Moon is in web site for updates and synchronous rotation around the Earth as are the 26 GPS satellites above us, which web site for updates and contact details. (hopefully) stop us from gettting lost in Worthing! contact details.

Wadhurst & Ticehurst Astronomical Society The Obervatory http://wadhurst.info/was/ Science Centre Worthing Astronomical Society www.worthing-astronomical-society.com Herstmonceux, Events Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month in the Upper Hailsham Room of the Methodist Church, Lower High Street, Wadhurst. Please We meet at 1930-2200hrs on the 3rd Monday of each month, except Admission £7.70/£5.70 If you have any talks or events see their website for further details. Check site for schedule August at: Emmanuel United Reformed Church Hall, St Michaels Road, you wish to be included in this and opening dates off Heene Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 4SD. Please see our listing then please get in touch. West Sussex www.the-observatory.org/ website for full details of meetings, membership etc.. and contact details.

Foredown Tower Astronomers South Downs Astronomical Society http://fta.exofire.net/ Events www.southdownsas.org.uk [email protected] From February 2010 we will be meeting at our new temporary venue of If you have any talks or events Emmaus, Drove Road, Portslade, Brighton BN41 2PA. The first meeting you wish to be included in this South Downs Astronomical Society are also tied in with the Planetarium at Emmaus will be on Thursday February 18th at 7.00 for 7.30pm. All listing then please get in touch. at Chichester. It boasts regular talks and observing sessions. Main meetings thereafter will be on the third Thursday of each month from Meetings are held in the Lower Main Hall of the Chichester High 7.30pm to 9.30pm, for talks and also observing (if the sky is clear). School for Boys starting at 7.30pm and are on the first Friday of each Please go to our website for full meeting details, directions and all month. Please contact Mark Ford – [email protected] contact information. for further details.

Horsham Astronomical Society Worthing Astronomers www.horshamastronomy.com www.worthingastronomers.org.uk [email protected] [email protected]

Please contact their secretary Richard Griffith at the above email Worthing Astronomers were formed in 2008 and now have over 55 address for further information or visit their website. members, with regular meetings and a newsletter. Like HantsAstro, it’s based primarily on-line. and with free membership Please see their website for contact and meeting details. Brighton & Hove Astronomical Society http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john_wade/bhas/

One of the oldest groups in the Brighton area, this small group occasionally meets for observing and lectures. For further information about the Club please contact one of the following trustees after 7.00pm: John Bush 01273 884461, Eric Gibson 01892 852639 or John Wade 01273 889112 or check their website. Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 42 43 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSoutht t t t Wiltshire Feb-Apr 2010 Channel Islands Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events W is for: White Dwarf A very small, white star formed when an average take place across the South of Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of sized star uses up its fuel supply and collapses. This process often produces a so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant planetary nebula, with the white dwarf star at its center, which is very dense in Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! terms of mass. Sirius B is an example of a White Dwarf. web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. contact details.

Wiltshire Astronomical Society Explore@Bristol Guernsey Astronomical Society http://wasnet.co.uk/ www.astronomy.org.gg Planetarium Events [email protected] Bristol This group holds regular lectures and has it’s own observatory, meetings Various Monthly Visits Shows If you have any talks or events Founded in 1995 they have several locations across Wiltshire and produce Check site for details + times are held every Tuesday - you wish to be included in this an excellent news letter plus a full speaker programme and observing and booking please see their website for contact and observing details. listing then please get in touch. sessions. WAS meetings are held at the Pavilion Hall in the village of Cost - £11.90 Adults Seend near Melksham. They meet every month from September to £7.70 under 16s June; usually from 8pm. Talks are given by guest speakers on a wide http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ variety of topics. Newcomers and visitors are always very welcome. Education/Planetarium.htm Jersey Astronomy Club Please check their website for directions and details of their meetings www.jerseyastronomyclub.org.je and contacts. Norman Lockyer Please check their website for contact details. Observatory & Swindon Stargazers Planetarium www.swindonstargazers.com Sidmouth, Devon [email protected] Various Monthly Visits Shows Check site for details + times This new group started in February 2009 and has an active group of and booking astronomers with monthly meetings and talks. Please check their Cost - £5 Adults website for further details and contacts. £2.50 under 16s http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ Home~EN.php

Space Odyssey Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG phone: 0844 335 1353 website: www.spaceodyssey.co.uk email: [email protected] Acrobat Tip: You can click on any weblink within the AstroSouth Events Directory to take you to that site!

If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest listing then please get in touch. information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 44 45 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSoutht AstroSouth AstroSouth t t t Bedfordshire Feb-Apr 2010 Bristol Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events take place across the South of B is for: Black Hole The collapsed core of a massive star. Stars that are very Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of England. Please check relevant so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. massive will collapse under their own gravity when their fuel is exhausted. England. Please check relevant web site for updates and Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! The collapse continues until all matter is crushed out of existence into what is web site for updates and known as a singularity. The gravitational pull is so strong that not even light can contact details. contact details. escape, unlike Bristol’s shopping centres.

Explore@Bristol Cranfield Astronomical Society Bristol Astronomical Society Planetarium The Royal www.societies.cranfield.ac.uk/astro www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk Bristol Observatory Greenwich [email protected] [email protected] Various Monthly Visits Shows National Maritime Museum, Check site for details + times Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Based in Cranfield University, this group boasts it’s own observatory, BAS was formed in December 1942 making it one of the oldest groups and booking A brand new 120 seated an astronomy course and a regular programme of speakers. Please see in the South and the society’s observatory boasts a 12” Newtonian Cost - £11.90 Adults planetarium, their website for more details or contact Kamal Sahdev on the email reflector. It has moved with the times with it’s own forum and active £7.70 under 16s phone: 020 8312 6565 address above. programme of observing and events. Meetings are held at Bristol http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Grammar School, University Road, Bristol on Friday evenings at 7.15pm. Education/Planetarium.htm email: [email protected] Please check their website for details of events and observing sessions Bedford Astronomical Society or contact their secretary (email above). www.bedastro.org.uk Explorer Dome Events [email protected] Mailbox 42, 14 Clifton Down If you have any talks or events Road, Bristol BS8 4BFA Formed in 1987 this group has it’s own observatory and a regular series you wish to be included in this mobile planetarium. of observing sessions and meetings and has now grown to approximately listing then please get in touch. Geared to the National 100 members. They meet regularly on the last Wednesday of each month Curriculum from KS1 to at Bedford School, either in the Resource Room, or in the Science Lab in A-level. Topics include Space, the school. Rooms open at 7:30pm and talks start at 8:00 sharp. Please Light, Forces and inside the see their website for further details and contacts. Body. Explorer Dome is very well known and travels throughout the South West of Luton Astronomical Society England & Wales and beyond… www.lutonastrosoc.org.uk phone:0117 914 1526 [email protected] website: www.explorerdomeco.uk Luton was formed in 1969 and runs events from it’s observatory and also email: information@ has an active programme of speakers. Their regular monthly meetings explorerdome.co.uk will take place on the last Thursday of the month, from 7.30 p.m. until 9.00 pm at Putteridgebury, except June, July and August when they are at Someries school Wigmore Lane. Please see their website for details or contact their secretary Geoff Mitchel on the above email address. Events

If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch.

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 46 47 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSoutht t t t Buckinghamshire Feb-Apr 2010 Buckinghamshire Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, take place across the South of so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep! web site for updates and web site for updates and contact details. contact details.

Aylesbury Astronomical Society Wycombe Astronomical Society The Royal www.aylesbury-astronomy.org.uk The Royal www.wycombeastro.org.uk [email protected] Observatory Greenwich Observatory Greenwich National Maritime Museum, National Maritime Museum, Since 1981 this group has grown to about 80 members and has it’s Popular observing nights take place at the society’s observatory twice own observatory with a 10” telescope. It has a busy calendar of events Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Greenwich, London SE10 9NF A brand new 120 seated a month. Their meetings take place on the first Monday of each month A brand new 120 seated and an informative website. Wycombe Astronomical Society meets at 7:30pm until approx 9:30pm at the Scout Hut on Oakfield Road in at Woodrow High House just off the A404 between Amersham and planetarium, planetarium, phone: 020 8312 6565 Aylesbury. Non-members are welcome to go along to meetings to get phone: 020 8312 6565 High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Main meetings are on the third to know them before becoming a member of the society. Wednesday of every month. On the first Thursday of every month they website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk email: [email protected] email: [email protected] have practical evenings which are based at the observatory. Please see their website for contact details. Events Milton Keynes Astronomical Society Events www.mkas.org.uk If you have any talks or events [email protected] If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. Milton Keynes AS was formed in 1972 and has a long history of observing listing then please get in touch. and lectures. Meetings are held at Rectory Cottages, Church Green Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 6BJ. All their meetings are open to the public and visitors are always welcome. Please see their website for dates and contact details.

Acrobat Tip: You can click on any weblink within the AstroSouth Directory to take you to that site!

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 48 49 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Words: David Woods Cover Story Pictures: Reaction Engines/Bisbos The New Space Race Part II - The Privateers...

All 3D Imaging by Adrian Mann Bisbos.com

specification remains a secret. The concept is so well advanced, scale prototypes of the It was being developed by Rolls Royce parts of the SABRE engine are already in progress and was called the RB545. The Skylon space plane has a length of 82 meters and the fuselage is made from a carbon fibre composite. The payload bay would be 12.3 meters long and 4.6 Skylon could carry 30-40 passengers, more meters in diameter and could deliver than any other vehicle currently in development up to 12 tonnes.

The primary function of Skylon is to carry satellites and cargo into orbit, The SABRE and the rocket with a heat exchanger and air you could be using an atmospheric but it would also be possible to carry compressor at the front. As it gets to source. The SABRE engine is different astronauts in special modules. Skylon the edge of the atmosphere it switches from other concepts, as air enters at It uncannily resembles the Lockheed over to its on-board oxidiser supply. It’s high-speed and is cooled down from SR-71 Blackbird but is roughly more Reaction Engines Ltd are located a bit like an air turbo ramjet from the 1000°C at Mach 5 to about -150°C than twice the size, and for the at the Culham Science Centre in 1960s. It operates up to Mach 5.5 and before being compressed and injected embryonic space tourism industry Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The company then, as it climbs into orbit, becomes into the rocket’s combustion chambers. there could be a place for Skylon. Some started in 1989 and has been working more like a conventional rocket but It’s basically a single stage rocket that of the technologies used are similar to on advanced space transport and using a mixture of helium, hydrogen works in two stages and can be used the Virgin Galactic’s scaled composites propulsion systems, notably a hybrid and oxygen as its fuel. up to 200 times. solution, which is planned to enter rocket engine called SABRE (Synergic service in 2011; however Skylon’s Air BReathing Engine) that uses air, All rockets require some kind of Skylon is classed as a single staged proposal is much bigger. In 2002 they very much like a jet engine. oxidiser so that they can burn fuel in rocket to orbit (SSTO) and is very carried out a provisional study and space. However, as a rocket climbs similar to the stillborn HOTOL, which published a paper in the Journal of the This revolutionary engine reduces the through the atmosphere, oxygen is was the UK’s answer to the Space British Interplanetary Society showing need to carry as much oxidiser as a usually supplied from an on-board tank, Shuttle. Similarly, it too was to use an it could carry thirty to forty passengers ...it has been over 20 years in development conventional rocket; it is effectively a so you are carrying extra weight when air breathing rocket engine but its exact and have an ISS style docking port. 50 51 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org

Now with the Space Shuttle mere missions away from retirement, a solution such as SKYLON could be one of Britain’s answers to join the new Space Race.

SKYLON is design to utilise existing airport infrastructure, with its own hangers.

Funding still continues on the SABRE engine and in December 2009 work No more Jet-lag? LAPCAT is another concept based on started on building a small scale the SABRE engine for Hypersonic Travel. prototype as ‘proof of concept’. This London to Sydney in three hours anyone? company’s unswerving focus during nearly two decades of research on a reusable vehicle is commendable and further underlines the need for support at Government level to promote and develop the innovative UK Space Industry.

Now that NASA is planning to sub- contract some of its work out to the commercial sector (please note - the space shuttle orbiter was manufactured by Rockwell/Boeing), innovations such as Skylon could happen a lot faster. The space shuttle was conceived back in the mid 1950s and the X-15 was the first reusable rocket ship which started testing in 1957! It would be another quarter of a century before the space shuttle would finally take off. With Skylon and the SABRE engine, a lot of the theory work has been done on a The SKYLON offers a cost effective solution relatively small budget, which is very and with more investment, it could be a real I miss Concorde. :-( British indeed! contender in this new-age of spaceflight 52 53 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org .org .org .org

AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSouth AstroSoutht t t t Cambridgeshire Feb-Apr 2010 Gloucestershire Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events Planetarium shows and events C is for: Cosmogony The study of celestial systems, including the Solar System, take place across the South of G is for: Geosynchronous Orbit An orbit in which a satellite’s orbital velocity take place across the South of stars, galaxies, and galactic clusters. is matched to the rotational velocity of the planet. A spacecraft in geosynchronous England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant orbit appears to hang motionless above one position of a planet’s surface. Satellites web site for updates and such as Astra 2D (for your TV) that just cover the UK fly like this. web site for updates and contact details. contact details.

Cambridge Astronomical Society Sawtry & District Astronomical Society The Royal [email protected] Explore@Bristol www.caa-cya.org Observatory Greenwich [email protected] Planetarium National Maritime Museum, The SDAS meet on the last Friday of the month at 19:30 at Greenfields Bristol Greenwich, London SE10 9NF The CAA is also the Cambridge Young Astronomers (CYA) and has Cricket Pavilion, Sawtry Fen, Huntingdon, Cambridge, PE28 5XN. Various Monthly Visits Shows A brand new 120 seated Please go along to a meeting or contact Chris Bernard above for more Check site for details + times a busy schedule of events for both young and old astronomers. They planetarium, have a 12” telescope and their meetings are held at the Institute of information. and booking phone: 020 8312 6565 Cost - £11.90 Adults Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge. Please see their website for website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk dates and contact details. £7.70 under 16s email: [email protected] Cotswold Astronomical Society http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ www.cotswoldas.org.uk Education/Planetarium.htm [email protected] Papworth Astronomy Club StarDome Planetarium www.papworthastronomy.org Cambridgeshire [email protected] Meetings of the society are held monthly on the second Saturday of the Explorer Dome phone: 01223 440 593 & Month, starting at 7.45 p.m. at the Millennium Hall of Shurdington Social Mailbox 42, 14 Clifton Down M: 07747 484975 This enthusiastic club holds regular monthly meetings in Papworth Centre, Shurdington, Cheltenham. Please see their website for more Road, Bristol BS8 4BFA website: information. mobile planetarium. Everard in the Vinter Room, Vinter Close. Meetings are usually on the www.stardomeplanetarium. first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, and feature a mixture of invited Geared to the National co.uk Curriculum from KS1 to speakers, equipment demonstrations and viewing sessions. Check their email: andygreen@ website for further information and contact details. A-level. Topics include Space, stardome-planetarium.com Light, Forces and inside the Body. Explorer Dome is very well known and travels Peterborough Astronomical Society Events http://www.pas-stargazer.co.uk throughout the South West of England & Wales and beyond… [email protected] If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this phone:0117 914 1526 Our new meeting venue is now the Copeland Community Centre. listing then please get in touch. website: Copeland, Bretton, Peterborough, PE3 6UK at 7:30 pm on the first www.explorerdomeco.uk Thursday of each calendar month except July and August. Visitors are email: information@ welcome at any of our meetings on payment of a fee of £2.50 if there is a explorerdome.co.uk visiting speaker and £1.50 if not. We are a small group with usually about 15 to 20 persons attending each meeting. Please contact martin Hall on the above email or see website for more info, new venue directions/map Events and to download a membership form. Acrobat Tip: You can click on any weblink within the AstroSouth If you have any talks or events Directory to take you to that site! you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch.

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 54 55 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org AstroSouth.org AstroSoutht t Loss of another BRITISH ICON? Hertfordshire Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events take place across the South of Letchworth & District Astronomical Society England. Please check relevant www.ldas.org.uk web site for updates and [email protected] contact details. This large group has been going since 1991 and now has over 80 members, it also has it’s own observatory north of Letchworth and has a number of telescopes at it’s disposal. Meetings are held on the last The Royal Wednesday of each month, starting at 7:30pm, normally at Plinston Hall Observatory Greenwich in Letchworth. Plinston Hall is located in the centre of Letchworth and National Maritime Museum, Photo © John Dibbs is well sign-posted. Please contact Jerry Stone, their Chairman, on the Greenwich, London SE10 9NF email above or more information or go to their website. A brand new 120 seated planetarium, South West Hertfordshire Astronomical Society phone: 020 8312 6565 www.swhas.org.uk website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk [email protected] email: [email protected]

SWHAS was founded in 1968 and has had a full programme of meetings for the past several years. The Society has access to a planetarium, StarDome Planetarium where a monthly tour of the night sky is conducted. Cambridgeshire Visitors and prospective members are welcome to attend their phone: 01223 440 593 & meetings. For full details of membership please contact their secretary M: 07747 484975 (Phil McMahon) or see their website for more information. website: PLEDGE NOW www.stardomeplanetarium. co.uk email: andygreen@ TO SAVE HER stardome-planetarium.com Avro Vulcan XH558 has weeks to live. Events PLEASE SIGN HER BIRTHDAY CARD If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this & PLEDGE TO KEEP HER ALIVE! listing then please get in touch. www.vulcantothesky.org

Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest information and Press Releases to: [email protected] 56 57 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org Words: David Woods Pictures: Graham Green .org Red Light Driver AstroSouth AstroSouth t t For just a few pounds, this modification for the Amateur Northamptonshire Feb-Apr 2010 Astronomer is simple, quite cool and gets you noticed in N is for: Newton’s Laws of Motion 1. A body continues in its state Planetarium shows and events the car park. of constant velocity (which may be zero) unless it is acted upon by an external take place across the South of force. 2. For an unbalanced force acting on a body, the acceleration produced is Changing your interior car England. Please check relevant proportional to the force impressed; the constant of proportionality is the inertial lights is one way of getting mass of the body. 3. In a system where no external forces are present, every action web site for updates and to see the night sky quicker contact details. force is always opposed by an equal and opposite reaction. Light pollution is one with your own eyes and thing, but another is bright allows you to use the car as a locker for your telescopes, Northampton Astronomical Society white light from cars and The Royal without blinding yourself or www.hamal.demon.co.uk headlights. It can spoil your Observatory Greenwich vision as it can take up to others when opening the car. [email protected] National Maritime Museum, thity minutes for your eyes to Greenwich, London SE10 9NF become adapted to the dark. They run regular events and hold lectures and observing sessions. A brand new 120 seated One stray white light from a For all details please go to their website. planetarium, torch or car interior can set phone: 020 8312 6565 back your night’s viewing. website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Our eyes can see really feint Northamptonshire Natural History Society email: [email protected] www.nnhs.info/astro/astromain.htm objects in the dark, ever since our hunter-gatherer days... but now we’re more Formed back in 1957, this section of the Natural History Society (which StarDome Planetarium dates back to 1876) is also involved with the WorldAstroCast, they likely to get attacked by a Cambridgeshire shopping trolley boast a comprehensive series of lectures and talks as well as some phone: 01223 440 593 & than a sabre- leading lights in the amateur astronomy community. They hold monthly M: 07747 484975 toothed You can get your eyes to meetings - please visit their website for further details. website: tiger, but our see Mag 5-6 within several www.stardomeplanetarium. eyes can minutes, and become fully co.uk still see in dark adapted in usually 30 Northants Amateur Astronomers email: andygreen@ the dark minutes. when we www.naastronomy.com stardome-planetarium.com [email protected] need to. Just use red Gel or replace the lights themselves with red bulbs, to help maintain Founded in 1983, this group hold regular meetings and ‘star watches’ Events which have proven to be very popular. Their meetings are held on the your dark adaption... 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at the Church House in St Botolphs If you have any talks or events Using a gel for the front Rd, Barton Seagrave. Please see their website for further information you wish to be included in this light means you can change and contact details. (complete online form) or e-mail: Jerry Bell. listing then please get in touch. Seeing Red - dark adaption is essential to a to white, or keep the glove Orwell Astronomical Society Ipswich good night’s observing locker white for map reading. www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~ipswich eBay is a source for the [email protected] correct light for your vehicle and so is your local car shop.

When either locking or unlocking your car, doing it manually rather than from the remote will prevent the indicators from flashing. Unless the alarm goes off!!!

58 59 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Words: David Woods .org Snap: as above... .org Kelling Heath AstroSouth AstroSoutht t One of the largest star parties in Europe - The Kelling Heath Spring Equinox 15-18 April 2010 Suffolk Feb-Apr 2010 http://www.starparty.org.uk Planetarium shows and events take place across the South of England. Please check relevant Orwell Astronomical Society Ipswich web site for updates and www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~ipswich contact details. [email protected]

With over 100 members this group has been going since 1967 and boasts a rich heritage from the Orwell Park Observatory. It holds open The Royal days for the public as well as lectures and observing sessions for it’s Observatory Greenwich members. Please check their website for details of joining and Open National Maritime Museum, Days at Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich), c/o Orwell Park School, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF on show in the morning too, like events. That said, astronomers are Nacton, Ipswich, IP10 0ER A brand new 120 seated Kelling Heath is vast. planetarium, It’s the biggest Star Party in Europe, the prized possessions they are – generally a friendly bunch anyway phone: 020 8312 6565 surprisingly, and it also runs for two polished and gleaming, the only and keen to share their experiences. website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk weeks. This event happens under things missing were hub caps and bonnet badges! We met quite a few people Stour Astronomical Society (Suffolk) email: [email protected] a few different guises during the from astro societies from around www.stourastro.org.uk course of the year, with this campsite I guess we missed the point too London which is understandable [email protected] as its base. If you ever get the chance to visit it – you’ll understand by bringing a twelve man tent, a given the light pollution. Here in Megrez 72FD and the SkyMax 102T Hampshire we are blessed with This group was founded in 2003 and meets monthly for talks and StarDome Planetarium why. It’s effectively a small custom baby Maksutov. The diehards were better skies. Would I go to Kelling observing sessions. They meet in the Jubilee Room of Cavendish Cambridgeshire built hamlet complete with a pub, easily identifiable with telescopes again is the real question? Yes, but Memorial Hall on the first Tuesday of every month at 7.30 p.m. If you phone: 01223 440 593 & two bars and a restaurant, a store, a far bigger than their tent! We’d got not next year. On the Saturday, would like to join or want more information please go to their website M: 07747 484975 gym and a swimming pool! Oh and that wrong too. Mind you – we when bookings were being taken or contact their secretary above. website: did I forget to mention the square? www.stardomeplanetarium. felt pretty smug with our camping for next year’s Autumn Equinox, co.uk The red and yellow fields kitchen and dining area for eight. I’m there were dozens and dozens of email: andygreen@ are completely taken over by still intrigued to know why so many people queuing. 2009 has been a stardome-planetarium.com astronomers from all over the UK, astro-imagers choose to purchase watershed year for events in the with the overspill now happening the same tent – The Eurohike Stowe. South and I guess that’s one of the in the blue field where we were You’ll see these two-tone grey tents best bits of the IYA 2009 - more Events based. Various groups meet up simply everywhere. Richie Jarvis people become galvanised. and assemble together like the and Ian Melville have one each, as If you have any talks or events imaging at the Star Gazers Lounge if to prove a point; it’s almost like a There are currently three camping/ you wish to be included in this (SGL) corner; I have never seen so standard piece of equipment. observing events in the South - listing then please get in touch. many laptops and telescopes in one the IOW Star Party in March, the place! There was also ‘Dobsonian We bumped into several Salisbury Star Party in August and Alley’ with huge 20” home-brewed acquaintances and HantsAstro Herstmonceux in September. If Dobsonians, giant refractors that members, but for us it was not really there could be a fourth one in probably only get used a few times a formal event. The impression we the West Country that would be a year. Maybe I’ve missed the got is that, unless you know who’s great as a two hundred miles plus point but Kelling almost feels like a going (you can book to be close to journey is an awfully long trek for gathering of car enthusiasts; there each other), it would be difficult to what could turn out to be a cloudy were some people we came across meet. Because of its size it would night, but even when Kelling does who had their telescopes fixed on naturally lose some of the warm cloud over the sheer scale of the Please ensure your details and events are up to date! Please e-mail your latest camaraderie you get at the smaller event more than makes up for it. information and Press Releases to: [email protected] Jupiter and nothing else. They’d be 60 61 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org STS-122 delivers the European Columbus science laboratory, built by the European Space Agency .org AstroSouth (ESA) to the international Space Station (ISS) - Spacewalk Feb 11 2008 AstroSoutht t Norfolk Feb-Apr 2010 Planetarium shows and events take place across the South of Letchworth & District Astronomical Society England. Please check relevant www.ldas.org.uk web site for updates and [email protected] contact details. This large group has been going since 1991 and now has over 80 members, it also has it’s own observatory north of Letchworth and has a number of telescopes at it’s disposal. Meetings are held on the last The Astronomy Wednesday of each month, starting at 7:30pm, normally at Plinston Hall Road Show in Letchworth. Plinston Hall is located in the centre of Letchworth and Sittingbourne, Kent is well sign-posted. Please contact Jerry Stone, their Chairman, on the We can travel up to 150 miles email above or more information or go to their website. from Kent. We can incorporate other subjects in our shows Over 100GB of material is South West Hertfordshire Astronomical Society available as well as models, www.swhas.org.uk geology samples & meteorites [email protected] for the shows.

SWHAS was founded in 1968 and has had a full programme of meetings phone:01795 420 372 for the past several years. The Society has access to a planetarium, www.astronomyroadshow.com where a monthly tour of the night sky is conducted. astroroadshow@blueyonder. Visitors and prospective members are welcome to attend their co.uk meetings. For full details of membership please contact their secretary (Phil McMahon) or see their website for more information. Events

Norwich Astronomical Society If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this www.norwich.astronomicalsociety.org.uk listing then please get in touch. [email protected]

Meetings are held at Seething Observatory, Toad Lane, Thwaite St. Mary, Norfolk NR35 2EQ SPACE The Society’s ‘club night’ is held on Friday evenings from 7.30pm onwards, they are a very friendly group willing to welcome new members and show them around. Visitors are more than welcome to go along to the Observatory to have a look around and see what they get up to. If its clear, the telescopes will INDUSTRY be available to look through, if its not clear, you will find them chatting over a cup of tea, or working to improve the facilities. Either way you will receive a very warm welcome. Please go to their website for contact details and directions. South

62 63 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org .org SPACE NEWS AstroSouth .org t AstroSoutht Space Industry South Feb-Apr 2010

Planetarium shows and events British National Space Centre (BNSC) take place across the South of 151 Buckingham Palace Road London SW1W 9SS England. Please check relevant United Kingdom web site for updates and Tel: +44 20 7215 0806/7 Fax: +44 20 7215 0936 contact details. Space Minister announces new The announcement comes following a public www.bnsc.gov.uk consultation on how to fund and organise the civil executive agency the UK space space sector, so that it meets the challenges of The British National Space Centre (BNSC) is at the centre of UK The Royal the future and delivers the greatest benefit to the endeavours to benefit from the exploration of space. Observatory Greenwich and satellite industry. country. National Maritime Museum, ‘A new agency will be created to take the U.K.’s As well as maximising the role of space technologies Greenwich, London SE10 9NF recession busting space and satellite sector into in driving economic growth in high-tech, high skilled A brand new 120 seated a new space age’, science and innovation Minister services, the new agency’s responsibilities will Avanti Communications Group Plc planetarium, Lord Drayson announced in December 2009. include: 74 Rivington Street phone: 020 8312 6565 London website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk This new bureaucracy busting agency will replace Strengthening the U.K.’s relationship with the EC2A 3AY email: [email protected] the British National Space Centre and bring together European space agency; Tel: +44 (0)207 749 1600 for the first time six Government departments, Fax: +44(0)207 749 1633 two research councils, the Technology Strategy Agreeing with UK industry on how to maximise the www.avantiplc.com StarDome Planetarium Board and the Met Office, that currently oversee benefits of space technologies; the organisation of UK space activities, to enhance Avanti has supported the use of Ka-band technology in Europe and Cambridgeshire efficiencies. Working with the scientific community to provide a their first Ka-band satellite, HYLAS 1, will launch in the second quarter phone: 01223 440 593 & The Government’s ambitious plans to exhilarate clear voice on decisions that will affect the sector of 2010, with their second satellite, HYLAS 2, launching in the first M: 07747 484975 growth and jobs within our world leading space Ian Pearson MP, Economic Sec at the Treasury, half of 2012. website: industry were set out in the Lord Drayson’s speech said: ‘Establishing the UK Space Agency reinforces www.stardomeplanetarium. at the Rutherford Appleton Space Conference. the Government’s commitment to be at the co.uk Space has been one of the nation’s unsung economic cutting edge of innovation and science. Satellite ComDev Europe Ltd email: andygreen@ success stories in recent years – and a thriving telecommunications and applications affect all Unit 10, Triangle Business Park stardome-planetarium.com sector will be vital in building Britain’s future. our daily lives. They provide high-tech R&D and job Stoke Mandeville It currently contributes £6.5 billion a year to the opportunities which play an important role in the Aylesbury UK economy and supports 68,000 jobs. The UK is growth of the UK economy.’ Buckinghamshire also currently second in the world only to the USA in Lord Drayson also highlighted the publication of the HP22 5SX Events space science. BNSC’s space exploration review in his speech. This Tel: +44 (0) 1296 616400 The new Space Agency will allow the UK to take examines the options for future UK participation Fax: +44 (0) 1296 616500 If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this full advantage of the opportunities offered by a in the exploration of our solar system, especially [email protected] world increasingly dependent on advances in locations where humans will one day live and work www.comdev.co.uk listing then please get in touch. space innovations and science. It will safeguard the such as the Moon and Mars. Nation’s critical mass of skills and expertise, and will It identifies several technological opportunities ComDev Europe supplies complex equipment, technology solutions bring together a range of budgets into one place including developing advanced robotics to and subsystems for space and terrestrial applications to major therefore improving strategic decision-making. work in partnership with astronauts, a lunar commercial organisations and MOD UK. Lord Drayson said: ‘Our space sector hasn’t missed communications and navigation service to support a beat during this recession. This is the classic story robotic and human exploration of the moon, and of outstanding UK science and entrepreneurship advanced launch vehicles such as Skylon to reduce continuing to create jobs and achieving exceptional the cost of getting into orbit. growth.’ The report recognises the importance of both ‘The new space agency is about making sure that the robotic and human space exploration and will be UK exploits its competitive advantage in satellites, used to inform future decisions and international robotics and related technologies.’ discussions with other state agencies on. 64 65 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Story: David Woods SPACE NEWS Pictures: Virgin Galactic

Hurricane provides Sir Richard Branson added: ‘We were fully expecting to be dramatic end to blown away by our beautiful new SpaceShip but got a little more Virgin Galactic’s than we bargained for!’ SpaceShipTwo The fantastic Spaceport America Event was designed by award winning URS/Foster + Partners, making VMS Eve and VSS Enterprise are this a truly British achievement. unveiled to a rapturous reception On the evening of Monday Other Space ports are planned from over 800 VIP guests and the 7th December, hurricane to open in several locations future astronaunts. winds tore apart the specially worldwide and will make created site that had been used Heathrow look a little tame. throughout the day to house guests attending the first roll- Flight tests will be commencing out of Virgin Galactic’s new later this year with VMS Eve, SpaceShip. with commercial operations rolling out in 2011. This exciting Sir Richard Branson and project heralds the birth of SpaceShip designer Burt Rutan Space Tourism, where science played hosts to over 800 press, fiction now becomes future astronauts and VIP guests science fact. such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. VMS Eve (Virgin Mother Ship) glided down the runway as the snow fell under a spectacular display of lights and music.

The SpaceShip was officially named VSS (Virgin SpaceShip) Enterprise by Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Richardson. The night was hailed as a success but minutes after the last of the guests had departed the site, gusts of 116mph ripped across the Mojave Desert and crushed the temporary buildings. Both the SpaceShip and Mother Ship escaped unscathed thanks to the rapid action of the crew as all guests were being evacuated.

VSS Enterprise is the commercial version of the winning Ansari X-Prize SpaceShipOne flown in 2004.

66 67 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org

EADS Astrium Infoterra Gunnels Wood Road Europa House Stevenage .org Southwood Crescent .org Hertfordshire Southwood AstroSoutht AstroSoutht SG1 2AS Farnborough Tel: +44 (0) 1438 773872 Hampshire http://www.astrium.eads.net/ Feb-Apr 2010 GU14 0NL Feb-Apr 2010 Tel: +44 (0)116 273 2300 Astriums technical excellence includes launch vehicles, manned space Planetarium shows and events [email protected] Planetarium shows and events activities and satellite systems and related services, and boasts some take place across the South of www.infoterra.co.uk take place across the South of of the most advanced design, manufacture and test facilities in the England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant space industry. web site for updates and Infoterra are a leading supplier of geospatial products and services, web site for updates and contact contact details. that help Governments and industrial organisations worldwide derive details. the business benefits from accurate spatial data. Cobham Technical Services (was Era Technology Ltd) Cleeve Road Leatherhead Norman Lockyer Inmarsat INTECH Science Centre Surrey Observatory & 99 City Road + Planetarium KT22 7SA Planetarium London Winchester, Hants Tel: 01372 367000 Sidmouth, Devon EC1Y 1AX Cost £2 per show in [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7728 1000 Various Monthly Visits Shows addition to exhibition entry www.era.co.uk Fax: +44 (0)20 7728 1142 Check site for details + times [email protected] Cost - £6.95 Adults Working at the leading edge of innovation, Cobham Technical Services and booking www.inmarsat.com £4.65 under 14 deliver major technology solutions to government departments and Cost - £5 Adults Check site for schedule global companies across many areas including communications, £2.50 under 16s Inmarsat stands at the forefront of mobile satellite services and www.intech-uk.com aerospace, electronics and energy industry sectors. http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ are internationally recognised as pioneers in their field. Their new Home~EN.php Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service will enable TV broadcasters to beam breaking news ‘live via videophone’ into millions Southdowns Planetarium IGG Component Technology/Alter UK Space Odyssey of homes. Chichester, West Sussex Regus Building Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, Various Monthly Shows 1000 Lakeside North Harbour Western Road Portsmouth Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG NPL Check site for details + times Hampshire phone: 0844 335 1353 National Physical Laboratory and booking PO6 3EZ website: Hampton Road Cost - £6 Adults Tel: +44 (0)23 9270 4240 www.spaceodyssey.co.uk Teddington £4 under 16s [email protected] email: Middlesex www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt www.altertechnology.com [email protected] TW1 0LW Tel: +44 (0)20 8977 3222 Fax: +44 (0)20 8614 0446 Alter UK has worked in the space industry for over 30 years on almost Explore@Bristol [email protected] Space Odyssey every new-build satellite and space programme and are the market www.npl.co.uk leader globally. They provide testing, engineering, procurement, Planetarium Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, storage, quality control, certification and consultancy for all high Bristol The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK’s National Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG reliability electronic component requirements. Various Monthly Visits Shows Measurement Institute and is a world-leading centre of excellence in phone: 0844 335 1353 Check site for details + times developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, website: and booking science and technology available. For over 100 years NPL has developed www.spaceodyssey.co.uk Cost - £11.90 Adults and maintained the nation’s primary measurement standards which email: £7.70 under 16s underpin an infrastructure of traceability throughout the UK and the [email protected] http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ world. Education/Planetarium.htm Events Events If you have any talks or events If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. listing then please get in touch.

68 69 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org

QinetiQ Serco Cody Technology Park Enterprise House .org .org A C Clarke Building Bartley Wood Business Park Ively Road Hook AstroSoutht AstroSoutht Farnborough Hampshire Hampshire RG27 9UY GU14 0LX Feb-Apr 2010 Tel: 01256 745900 Feb-Apr 2010 Tel: +44 (0)1252 392000 Fax: 01256 744111 Fax: +44 (0)1252 393399 Planetarium shows and events [email protected] Planetarium shows and events www.qinetiq.co.uk take place across the South of www.serco.co.uk take place across the South of England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant QinetiQ provide research, technical advice, technology solutions and web site for updates and Serco is an international service company. They design innovative web site for updates and services to customers in core markets of defence and security, and contact details. solutions, integrate systems and improve services by managing contact details. are now working to transfer expertise and capabilities into markets people, processes, technology and assets more effectively. such as energy and environment.

Southend Planetarium Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) Southdowns Planetarium Qioptiq Space Technology Central Museum, Tycho House Chichester, West Sussex Unit 2 Victoria Avenue, 20 Stephenson Road Various Monthly Shows Kinmel Park Industrial Estate Southend on Sea, Surrey Research Park Check site for details + times Bodelwyddan Guildford Derbyshire Essex SS2 6ES Surrey and booking LL18 5TY phone: 01702 434449 GU2 7YE Cost - £6 Adults Tel:+44 (0)1745 588000 website: Tel” 01483 803803 £4 under 16s Fax: +44 (0)1745 584258 www.southendmuseums.co.uk Fax: 01483 803804 www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt www.qioptiq.co.uk email: museums@southend. [email protected] gov.uk www.sstl.co.uk Island Planetarium Qioptiq Space Technology first started in the space industry as and Dr. Robert Hooke Pilkington Space Technology in 1970. Using their expertise in glass SSTL is a world leader in the design, manufacture and operation of Exhibition manufacture, they developed a unique range of cerium doped glass Southdowns Planetarium high performance small satellites with over 32 satellites launched Fort Victoria Country Park, types, which have been utilised on over 2500 satellites worldwide. in the last 25 years. They have developed innovative technologies During the past 35 years their glass compositions, together with The Royal to change the economics of space, delivering cost effective satellite Westhill Lane, Yarmmouth, Isle bespoke coating designs, have positioned Qioptiq Space Technology Observatory Greenwich missions within rapid timescales. of Wight, PO41 0RRA as the major supplier of both solar cell Coverglasses and Optical Solar National Maritime Museum, Evening Astronomy Lectures/ Reflectors to the World Space Industry. Greenwich, London SE10 9NF Shows, Stargazing Evenings and A brand new 120 seated Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd Courses. See web site planetarium, SEA (Group) Ltd for full details SciSys phone: 020 8312 6565 Beckington Castle phone:0800 1958295 Methuen Park website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk 17 Castle Corner or 01983 761555 Chippenham email: [email protected] Beckington www.islandplanetarium.co.uk Wiltshire Nr Frome email:enquiry@ SN14 0GB Somerset Tel: 01249 466466 BA11 6TA islandastronomy.co.uk Fax: 01249 466664 The Obervatory Tel: 01373 852000 [email protected] Science Centre Fax: 01373 831133 www.scisys.co.uk Herstmonceux, [email protected] Hailsham www.sea.co.uk SciSys is an innovative business and technology solutions company who Admission £7.70/£5.70 over the last 25 years have designed, built, integrated and supported Check site for schedule SEA (Group) Ltd specialise in systems engineering, software and reliable, sustainable solutions based on experience with pioneering and opening dates electronic engineering services and solutions to Government and Events technologies. Industry with activities in the Aerospace market as well as Defence www.the-observatory.org/ and Public Sector. If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. Events

If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch. 70 71 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Thales UK Reaction Engines Limited Gatwick Road Building D5 Crawley .org Culham Science Centre .org West Sussex AstroSouth Abingdon AstroSouth RH10 9RL t Oxon t Tel: 01293 562822 OX14 3DB Fax: 01293 563366 Feb-Apr 2010 Tel: 01865 408314 Feb-Apr 2010 www.thalesgroup.com/uk Fax: 01865 408301 Planetarium shows and events [email protected] Planetarium shows and events Thales UK is a leading international electronics and systems group, www.reactionengines.co.uk serving the aerospace, space and defence needs worldwide, also take place across the South of take place across the South of including the security & services markets. England. Please check relevant England. Please check relevant web site for updates and Reaction Engines Limited design and develop advanced space web site for updates and transport and propulsion systems, and have plans to develop products contact details. contact details. for the commercial exploitation of space. They embarked upon an VEGA intensive programme of research to demonstrate the heat exchanger 2 Falcon Way technology crucial to their SABRE air-breathing engine which is Shire Park destined to power the SKYLON spaceplane. Welwyn Garden City INTECH Science Centre Hershel Museum Herts + Planetarium of Astronomy Winchester, Hants Various Monthly Shows AL7 1TW Sounding Rocket Services Check site for details + times Tel: 01707 368099 Unit 1 Fax: 01707 393909 Cost £2 per show in Parnall Road and booking [email protected] addition to exhibition entry Fishponds http://www.bath-preservation- www.vegaspace.eu Cost - £6.95 Adults Bristol trust.org.uk/index.php?id=8 £4.65 under 14 BS16 3JQ VEGA, one of the leading names in the European Space sector, Check site for schedule Telephone Explore@Bristol works with Space agencies, satellite operators and manufacturers www.intech-uk.com Tel: +44 117 965 1818 Planetarium worldwide. They offer a full programme lifecycle that ensures the Fax: +44 117 965 1822 design, development and operation of Space missions meet their Bristol [email protected] Various Monthly Visits Shows programme goals. www.srs-limited.com The Obervatory Check site for details + times Science Centre The aim of Sounding Rocket Services Limited (SRS) is to commercialise and booking Bristol Spaceplanes Limited Herstmonceux, novel spacecraft products within the European Community. They Cost - £11.90 Adults [email protected] Hailsham continue to expand and focus on the development and marketing of £7.70 under 16s Tel: 01454 613907 Admission £7.70/£5.70 rocket and spacecraft products, with particular emphasis on innovation http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ Fax: 01454 613807 Check site for schedule and reduction of costs, by the application of good commercial practices. Education/Planetarium.htm and opening dates Bristol Spaceplanes, founded in 1991, have evolved a step by step www.the-observatory.org/ Mizar Travelling development programme leading to orbital spaceflight, and their work AEGIS Systems Ltd has been used to advance NASA studies on reusable launch vehicles Planetarium 30 Anyards Road Wimborne, Dorset and space tourism. COBHAM Events Surrey The inflatable dome holds up Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) KT11 2LA to 35 and can be tailored to University College London If you have any talks or events suit individual requirements. you wish to be included in this Tel: +44 (0)1932 860070 Department of Space & Climate Physics Fax: +44 (0)1932 860071 listing then please get in touch. Mullard Space Science Laboratory [email protected] phone: 01202 887 084 Holmbury St. Mary www.aegis-systems.co.uk www.mizar-astro.freeserve.co.uk Dorking Surrey RH5 6NT Aegis Systems have a multidisciplinary team of specialists that Tel: +44 (0)1483 204100 cover the broadcasting, space and telecommunications sectors. Events Fax: +44 (0)1483 278312 Their services range from detailed engineering studies through to www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk international market analysis. If you have any talks or events MSSL is the largest university space research group in the UK and you wish to be included in this have participated in over 35 satellite missions and over 200 rocket listing then please get in touch. experiments as well as researching the Earth’s climate and events at the limits of the known Universe. They also design, build and test instruments and other spacecraft systems on site. 72 73 www.astrosouth.org www.astrosouth.org Aetheric Engineering Ltd PowerSat Limited Katana House 10 Redcliffe Square Fort Fareham Trading Estate .org London .org Fareham SW10 9JZ AstroSoutht AstroSouth PO14 1AH Tel: +44.207.370.6036 t Tel: 01329 823583 [email protected] Fax: 01329 288675 Feb-Apr 2010 www.powersat.com Feb-Apr 2010 www.aetheric.co.uk Planetarium shows and events PowerSat is a pioneer in generating safe, clean, reliable Solar energy Planetarium shows and events Aetheric Engineering’s capabilities include spacecraft, earth stations, take place across the South of from space. Captured via satellites it’s transmitted wirelessly to take place across the South of control centres, communications networks, and the interfacing of England. Please check relevant receiving stations at different points around the globe. Thousands of England. Please check relevant satellite communication systems with terrestrial infrastructure. They web site for updates and megawatts can be harnessed and shifted between receiving stations web site for updates and offer geostationary, LEO and MEO satellite expertise and their earth thousands of miles from each other in seconds. contact details. contact details. station experience includes all sizes from VSAT to 30m diameter.

SPUR ELECTRON LTD Explore@Bristol ESR Technology Ltd The Obervatory Hayward House Planetarium Whittle House Science Centre Hayward Business Centre Bristol 410 Birchwood Park Herstmonceux, New Lane Various Monthly Visits Shows Warrington Havant Hailsham Check site for details + times Cheshire Hants and booking WA3 6FW Admission £7.70/£5.70 PO9 2NL Tel: +44 (0)1925 843400 Check site for schedule UK Cost - £11.90 Adults Fax: +44 (0)1925 843500 and opening dates Tel: +44 (0) 23 9245 7140 £7.70 under 16s [email protected] www.the-observatory.org/ Fax: +44 (0) 23 9247 0874 http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ www.erstechnology.com www.spurelectron.com Education/Planetarium.htm

ESR Technology operates the European Space Tribology Laboratory The Royal Spur Electron, created in 1982, offer consultancy services to the (ESTL), with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA). ESTL has Observatory Greenwich International Space Industry and also design support through to Norman Lockyer been involved in practically every major European Space programme National Maritime Museum, product manufacture and test in the fields of Component Engineering, Observatory & over the past 35 years. They specialise in providing solutions to various Laboratory Services and Procurement. They also provide state-of- Planetarium issues relating to the precision mechanisms that operate in the Greenwich, London SE10 9NF the-art capacity with a high quality Clean Room, Semi-Auto and Fully vacuum environment of space, or in terrestrial vacuum applications. A brand new 120 seated Automated manufacturing capability. Sidmouth, Devon planetarium, Various Monthly Visits Shows phone: 020 8312 6565 Check site for details + times Exemplar Associates Limited website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk Satellite Services Ltd and booking 5 Granary Buildings email: [email protected] Business Technology Centre Cost - £5 Adults Millow Hall Farm Bessemer Drive £2.50 under 16s Millow, Dunton, Stevenage http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ Biggleswade, Herts Home~EN.php Bedfordshire SG1 2DX SG18 8RH Events Tel: 01279 505047 Tel: 01767 316611 [email protected] If you have any talks or events Space Odyssey [email protected] you wish to be included in this www.satserv.co.uk www.exemplar-associates.com Foxglove Banks, 35 Longmead, listing then please get in touch. Satellite Services design and manufacture on-board sub-systems for Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3SG Exemplar Associates provide experience for communications systems high reliability smallsat applications, their products include Attitude phone: 0844 335 1353 engineering expertise to the aerospace industry, including major Sensors and Actuators and TM/TC units. website: communication satellite operators and aerospace manufacturers. www.spaceodyssey.co.uk email: [email protected]

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