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CN Autumn 2009 _____________________________________________________________________ Current Notes The Journal of the Manchester Astronomical Society September 2009 _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ News and Views such we should now have a continuous run from the early 50s to the present day. Library Astronomy is also a valuable library resource and I hope to move everything to the shelves Peter Cook has very kindly donated the within the next few weeks. Of course this following books to the library. means that, in the case of Sky & Telescope, we will have a considerable number of duplicates. First Steps in Astronomy without a Telescope This will be an opportunity for members to fill in by P. F. Burns – Ginn & Co. Ltd., Queen gaps in their own collection. Of course a small Square, London W.C. 1. donation to the Society’s funds would always be appreciated. The Stars in their Courses by Sir James Jeans, Cambridge University Press, 1931. _____________________ Guide to the Stars by Patrick Moore, Scientific Book Club Edition, 1960. Exhibitions Man and Space by Ralph E. Lapp, Scientific There will be an exhibition at the Portico Library Book Club Edition, 1961. & Gallery featuring “Manchester Astronomical Society: Four Centuries of Astronomy on the The Planet Mercury by E. M. Antoniadi, Northwest”, starting Monday 5th October 2009 Translated by Patrick Moore, Keith Reid Ltd., and running until Thursday 29th October 2009. Shaldon, Devon, 1974, ISBN 0-904094-02. Details are appended. Man’s View of the Universe by R. A. Lyttleton, ****** Scientific Book Club Edition, 1961. On Wednesday 29th October there is an The Planet Venus by Patrick Moore, Faber & astronomy-themed fun day being held at the Faber, 3rd Edition, 1960. Manchester museum on Oxford Road and which is part of Manchester Science Festival. The Return of Halley’s Comet by Patrick Moore The title is “Planets, stars and space rocks”. & John Mason, Patrick Stevens, 1985, ISBN 0- MAS has agreed to take part and will be 85059-790-0. showing our display of the moon landings between 11:00 and 16:00, as previously seen Comets by Russell Ash & Ian Grant, Ash & at the Museum of Science & Industry Grant Ltd., 1973, ISBN 0-904069-00-1. (M.O.S.I.). If you feel you can help on the day then please have a word with a member of Exploration of the Moon by F. M. Branley, Council. Scientific Book Club Edition, 1963. ****** Rockets & Space Flight by Hans K. Kaiser, If you fancy journeying to The Royal Scientific Book Club Edition, 1961. Observatory, Greenwich, then you will have the chance to view the winning entries to the Satellites of the Solar System by Werner Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2009. The Sandner, Scientific Book Club Edition, 1965. exhibition is open until January 10th 2010. For further information go to www.nmm.ac.uk. The Sky at Night by Patrick Moore, Scientific Book Club Edition, 1964. ****** The Expanding Universe by Sir Arthur The display boards that were used at M.O.S.I Eddington, Pelican Books, 1941. were loaned to Lostock library, in Trafford, at the beginning of September for a 2 week ****** period. Response from the public and the local On the 19th September I had the opportunity of school was positive. It is hoped to offer the visiting the Royal Astronomical Society display boards to other libraries in the area. headquarters, Burlington House. The main _____________________ reason for the visit was to collect some journals that had been donated to the RAS from the Reminder - Membership fees are due library of Julian D. M. H. Henderson, 1928 – 2008. from October 1st. The journals involved were copies of Sky & Members Subscription: £20.00 per annum Telescope from about 1974 – 2008 and Astronomy from 2001. I also collected Scientific Student Membership (under 18 or in full time American which covers 1971 - 2008. Sky & education): 50% of adult subscription (£10.00) Telescope is a valuable research tool and as Barry Henshall, President _____________________________________________________________________ Current Notes: September 2009 1 _____________________________________________________________________ 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing Jupiter Impact On July 20, 1969, man achieved one of his I had a minor epic on the night 24\25 August greatest achievements when astronauts Neil without the minor bit. Armstrong and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin successfully Set up my 203 mm SCT (butchered old LX200) landed and walked on the surface of the Moon. on HEQ5 pro mount as darkness fell - late for me. Then waited for Jupiter to round the house This started a weeklong celebration at the and let the scope cool off. Museum of Science and Industry (M.O.S.I.) with the arrival of a Shuttle Crew to meet Just as Jove was coming into view cloud excited schoolchildren, while sharing their started moving in. I hurriedly got a few trusty adventures, of a ride into space. old Toucam Pro clips fumbling with the focus and nipping in and out to view the PC monitor. Manchester Astronomical Society (M.A.S.), in Image clips looked poor. Then clouded out. keeping with its long connection with M.O.S.I., Ordinarily I might have gone to bed but in the attended on the final Saturday to share with the exceptional circumstances of the impact on visitors the activities of the society through its Jove possibly being on view I decided to sit it display of Lunar, and Planetary observations. It out a while. was supported by a looping video presentation of that historic journey to the Moon from archive At last an hour or so later there was a gap in footage. It was brought up to date with footage the cloud. I took more Toucam clips but seeing of the latest exploration of the planet Mars and was still very mediocre. After rush processed with images from the Hubble Space Telescope. one or two of the video clips. I got to bed feeling disappointed about 3:50 Children were most excited by the table we set am. up, with printouts of spacecraft for them to colour in. Some amazing results were It was only next day when I got round to submitted from Green shuttles to Rainbow registaxing all my Jove Toucam clips. I found I coloured ones. Some of the Mums and Dads had managed to image the impact site - though could not resist having a go but fell short of the only a very mediocre picture . children's efforts. My friend Tony O'Sullivan of Salford AS During the day a steady stream of visitors (200 managed to get a very nice picture a bit earlier est.) stopped and admired the display and than me. His shows the GRS towardsthe taxed our members with questions relating to precedingside and the impact towards the our society images on display and especially other. the Moon images together with the telescope I hope others got views of this interesting event. that was on display. This drew a lot of attention as it was positioned on a distant propeller on a static aircraft display. Two of our visitors on holiday from France were made to feel at home as Guy Duckworth came to the rescue and conversed with them in their native tongue. In my position as Publicity Rep in the M.A.S., I had made contact with M.O.S.I. months ago and reported to council on the possibility of the M.A.S. attending to promote Astronomy. I am sure this event went off excellently, and all enjoyed a great day. This could not have happened, without the support of members of the M.A.S. I would like to give special thanks to Anthony Jennings, Marion Mills, Guy Duckworth (attended with a back injury) and Becky Elliott, for all their efforts on the day, in the setting up of the displays, and giving up their free time. Anthony (Tony) W Cross ______________________ Cliff Meredith ______________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Current Notes: September 2009 2 _____________________________________________________________________ A note on the first telescopic It is true that in most respects Harriot’s first drawing is somewhat crude; it was certainly depiction of the Moon by Thomas surpassed by his later efforts, which are Harriot (1560-1621). believed to have been influenced by Galileo's drawings published in Sidereus Nuncius in It is often Galileo who is credited as being the 1610, which was certainly available in England first to turn a telescope towards the heavens, within a few months of its publication in Italy. In and it is true that his ‘Sidereus Nuncius’ fact, according to Terrie F. Bloom in ‘Borrowed represents the first published results of Perceptions; Harriot’s maps of the Moon’, systematic astronomical observations using Harriot was ‘spreading the word about Sidereus these new instruments. However as the 400th Nuncius by June of 1610’, about a month anniversary of Galileo’s observations has before his second telescopic rendition of the arrived it is an Englishman who has emerged to Moon. There is an apparent ‘gap’ of around 12 be credited with being the first to depict a months between Harriot’s first drawing of the telescopic impression of an astronomical body, Moon and his later more ‘regular’ observations. namely the Moon. That man is Thomas Harriot, This may have been the result of some of his ‘… the First Telescopic Astronomer’ as Alan papers being lost when they were in the Chapman referred to him in JBAA 2008 possession of Baron von Zach in the late 18th December. Century. Whether Harriot was influenced by Galileo or not Jerry Grover raises an interesting Thomas Harriot’s first drawing of the crescent point, namely, is there anything which sets Moon is dated 1609 July 26th, 9.00 p.m.
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