Logo for Hampshire Astronomical Group. A starfield, fading in from the left of the page. A picture of Saturn against the starfield.
Thursday 2nd of July 2009 - 11:58 pm BST   

 
 


International Year of Astronomy 2009
 

Welcome to the
Hampshire Astronomical Group

Based high on a hill on the South Coast of England in the village of Clanfield, between Petersfield and Portsmouth, you will find one of the largest and most superbly equipped amateur observatories in England with a very active and keen membership of observers.

We have a full program of Public Open evenings throughout the year at the Observatory coupled with monthly, entertaining and informative, talks at the Memorial Hall in Clanfield Village which you are more than welcome to attend.

If you are interested and would like to know more please feel free to browse this web-site. If we have fired your imagination and would like to join us then visit our 'joining page' and download an application form.

Thank you for visiting our web-site, it is constantly up-dated, so please re visit often.  If you have any suggestions on how we can improve on it, or would like to see anything included, then please do let me know.

Clear Nights and Dark Skies,

Richard Judd - President
Hampshire Astronomical Group

 

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)

 



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

 



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    

 









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.

 







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

 

 

What's On?
All events listed are open to the public.

Friday, 10th July 2009
"Atmospheric Optics"
A talk by Storm Dunlop
Horndean Technology College - start time 7:45pm
More details...

Friday, 14th August 2009
"NO LECTURE"

- start time 7:45pm
More details...

Friday, 11th September 2009
Annual General Meeting
Hampshire Astronomical Group

More details...

Saturday, 26th September 2009
Public Open Evening
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Friday, 9th October 2009
"Cosmic Quest - History of Astronomy"
A talk by Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest
Clanfield Memorial Hall - start time 7:45pm
More details...

Friday, 23rd October 2009
Public Open Evening - Autumn Moon Watch
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Saturday, 24th October 2009
Public Open Evening - Autumn Moon Watch
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Sunday, 25th October 2009
Public Open Evening - Autumn Moon Watch
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Friday, 30th October 2009
Public Open Evening - Autumn Moon Watch
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Saturday, 31st October 2009
Public Open Evening - Autumn Moon Watch
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Sunday, 1st November 2009
Public Open Evening - Autumn Moon Watch
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:30pm
More details...

Friday, 13th November 2009
"Moon Projectiles"
A talk by Nigel Wells
Clanfield Memorial Hall - start time 7:45pm
More details...

Saturday, 28th November 2009
Public Open Evening
Observations to be confirmed
Clanfield Observatory - start time 7:00pm
More details...

Friday, 11th December 2009
"Sputnik in Context"
A talk by John Axtell
Clanfield Memorial Hall - start time 7:45pm
More details...

 
A view of the domes at the observatory.
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