Change of Venue for Monthly Talks

Please note that due to roof problems, the Clanfield Memorial Hall cannot be used. Until further notice, all lectures during 2009 will be in the 6th Form Common Room at Horndean Technology College in Bartons Cross, (off Catherington Lane) Horndean.

Please see lecture announcements for directions.

Graham Bryant (Chairman)

Announcement posted by : Graham Bryant

Events in the South of England

Nightlife

Summer Astronomy Event
Portsmouth 4th July 2009

Last few days to get your tickets

Tickets @ £12 each or £10 if affiliated to SAGAS
Tickets available from Graham Bryant graham.bryant@hantsastro.org.uk

For further details check out the link here Nightlife Event

Announcement posted by :

Telescope 400 Event

Tickets are now on sale for the Telescope 400 day at Syon House on Sunday 26th July 2009

For ticket details please visit the Telescope 400 web site here    

Announcement posted by : Website Team

Astronomical & Space Events for July 2009

Sun

Astronomical twilight returns on 22 July at 00:43 BST in London and lasts for approximately 45 minutes.  By the end of July there will be almost 3 hours darkness lasting from around 23:42 to 02:32 BST.

Moon

Full Moon is on 7 July, and is placed low on the horizon.  18 July sees a 22% crescent Moon rising at about 01:30 BST to the northeastern horizon, and at about 03:30 BST there is a lunar occultation of the brightest southern and eastern parts of the Pleiades.  New Moon is on 22 July.

Mars

Mars is a morning object, and is a few degrees west of Venus during the early part of July.

Venus

-4.0 mag, visible east-north-east in pre-dawn skies.  13 July sees Venus passing within 9 arcminutes of epsilon Tauri.  27 July sees Venus half a degree below the Crab Nebula (M1), and is best seen at 03:00 BST.

Jupiter

Magnitude -2.6 to -2.7.  The morning of 10 July sees Jupiter's moons arranged in a line to the west of the planet, with Europa being eclipsed by the shadow of Jupiter at 03:38 BST.  At 23:00 BST on the same day Jupiter will be 4° south of the Moon.

Neptune

At 23:00 BST on 10 July Neptune will be 3° south of the Moon.  The best time to observe Neptune is on the 12 July at 00:50 BST, where it will be a south-east direction and placed in Capricornus.  Its altitude will be about 15°.

Uranus

Uranus is coming into view in Aquarius.  The best time to see this planet is on 31 July at 02:30 BST, in a south-east direction, and placed in the constellation Pisces, it will  have an an altitude of 30°.

Meteors

Alpha Capricornids, peaks 8, 15 and 26 July.  Perseids, 23 July onwards, midnight being a favourable time, with a maximum on 12 August.  Delta Aquarids, 28/29 July, favourable time is from 23:00 BST, ZHR 15-20 meteors/hour.

Comets

22/PKopff at mag. 8.1 can be found in central Aquarius and is within the range of binoculars and small telescopes, fades during July.  C/2006 W3 (Christensen) brightens during July as it travels southwards through Cygnus.  By 31 July it will have crossed in Vulpecula.  Comets may be difficult to observe due to bright background.

Variable Stars

Suitable for binoculars, R2 Cassiopeia has eclipses on 1, 16, 22 and 27 July, with an eclipse duration of 4.8 hours.  See http://www.britastro.org/vss/ for finder charts.

Announcement posted by : Website Team

Autumn Moon Watch at Clanfield Observatory

2009 has been designated as the first International Year of Astronomy to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first astronomical use of the telescope, and Autumn Moon Watch is one of the national events you might hear about.

Following the very popular event in Spring, AUtumn Moon Watch will run from Friday 23rd October to Sunday 25th October and from Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November. These two weekend events week will offer superb opportunities for viewing the first quarter Moon and also the planet Jupiter.

We will use the same format and cost as our normal open evenings. (£7.50 for adults, £5.00 for children under 12)

To book for any of these events:
Email: jack.climpson@hantsastro.org.uk or mobile 079 8612 1613

Announcement posted by : Jack Climpson