BNSC Visit
2006 AGM Meeting
The Chairman Retires Dec 2007
David Hardy Meeting 2007
Observing Meeting Mar 2007
Observing Meeting Mar 2001
Observing Meeting Jan 2000
Observing Meeting May 1999
Observing Meeting Feb 1997
Shrawardine Meeting 2004
El Presidente - ie Lembit Opik
Jodrell Bank Visit May 2003
Science in the square
SAS open day - Sept 1996
SAS open day - July 1997
FAS meeting 1995
Shoemaker-Levy 9 night
Solar workshop
10th Anniversay dinner
Stan Courtney
Observing a partial solar eclipse - UK
Mount Palomar observatory
Solar observatory
Isaac Newton telescope
The view from Mauna Kea
JCMT on Mauna Kea
Astronaut in Shrewsbury
Kennedy Space Centre
Moon rock samples
Shropshire Star publicity photo
NAW Photo Competition 5th Prize
Avebury Stone Ring
Orkney Stone Ring
Winter observing
In the spring of 2008 the society visited the British National Space Centre at Leicester. The visit coincided with a Sci-Fi weekend they were having. Soon it was difficult to tell the difference between members from aliens. There was lots to see - especially the Soyuz capsule and Skylarks. Good fun though we never did meet Ellen Ripley.
In a bit of a break from tradition the AGM for 2006 was held at Roddington so we could get the business done early and then observe. In the event, the clouds rolled in (surprise) and Mandy Baliey gave us a talk on her experiences as a student with the Open University including observing on Mallorca. It was fun and sounded well worth doing.
Photographs showing some of the sights at 1998's "Science in the Square" in Shrewsbury. The SAS had a giant walk-through sundial in the square, telescopes and an astrolabe set up indoors (the weather was not kind) for demonstration purposes. With the aid of an inflatable planetarium many people got a feel for the night sky and had some fun.
Photographs showing some of the sights at 1996's "SAS Open Day" at Rowley House Museum in Shrewsbury. SAS members turned out in force to show Shrewsbury's citizens what we get up to when it gets dark. Lots of exhibits, videos, photos and hardware on show. Seemed to go down well with kids.
Photograph showing some of the activity at the 1997 "SAS Open Day" at Rowley House Museum in Shrewsbury. SAS members manned stalls in the museum during a Saturday morning and afternoon to talk to people about their hobby and passion for astronomy. Lots of fun for all concerned. Kids always seem to like looking through an eyepiece.
Our society president was able to avoid his many duties as an MP and turned up to give a talk at the SAS 2003 Summer Solstice party. Alas, I was in the kitchen helping out but from the applause it must have been pretty good. Here he is seen with some friends before he had to depart.
In 2007 the society played host to the UKs best astronomy artist, David Hardy. He gave an interesting talk covering his long career as an illustrator both of books and for television. After the meeting he was asked if he would consider designing a new logo for the SAS that represented our interest and our home. Happily he agreed and it now adorns the website and the newsletter. Its a nice piece of work.
A visit to the Jodrell Bank observatory and arboretum in May 2003 nearly ended in disaster when the booking was lost. But the staff at Jodrell rallied fantastically and the telescope operator for that afternoon was kind enough to show society members around and give us the benefit of his own personal perspective. It was a great day. Mark Wiggin took the shots with a trusty Pracktica and scanned them for this web page. The picture of the scope is especially pleasing as it was taken through a closed window.
SAS stalwart Stan Courtney in a society publicity photo (its a bit obvious given its daytime) taken by our very own Shropshire Star photographer Peter Shah. Stan is shown backed by a number of telescopes raising the issue "Which one to use first?".
In December 2007, David Woodward retired from his position as SAS Chairman and also Committee member. The occasion was marked by the new Chairman, Richard Pearce, presenting Dave with a presentation box of meteor material as thanks for his support for the society - including at least 10 years as Chairman - since it formed from two existing societies in 1992/3.
Hopefully, he will not make himself a stranger.
On the night the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter, members of the society gathered to observe the result. They were blessed with clearish skies and were able to see impact scars on the surface of jupiter soon after the sites came into view.
As can be seen, there was a very good attendance for this rare occurence.
On a thoroughly miserable night in December 2004 a good proportion of our members gathered for a meal in Shrewsbury. It was to celebrate roughly 10 years since the society was formed from two local societies. Despite a late vote in The Commons our President Lembit Opik gave a very entertaining talk without notes. The food was really good. Perhaps there should be an 11th anniversary bash as well...
Two shots of NASA astronaut Prof. Don Lind giving a talk to the SAS in July 2001. He flew on the Challenger shuttle before it was destroyed. His talk was entertaining (as one of the pictures clearly testifies) and highly informative. It was a great meeting. One of the pictures shows the bulk of the 2001 Committee with Dr+Mrs Lind.
A photograph showing the analemma meridian sundial at DERA Farnborough on the first day of Spring 2000. The gnomon can be seen outside the window. The whole frosted glass screen is about 1.8m high. The analemma is a little fast as 2000 is a century-is-divisble-by-400 leap year. Unusually the dial is viewed from inside the building
A photograph showing some of the membership at the 1995 FAS meeting. Apologies to Ian for cutting him off the picture originally.
A photograph showing the then SAS Chairman David Woodward demonstrating the safe use of one of the society scopes to observe the solar eclipse 1996. The photograph was taken at a well attended public meeting in Condover.
Photograph showing SAS members examining or displaying samples of real Moon rock kindly provided by PPARC and NASA for one of our meetings at The Gateway. The chunks embedded in glass were examined by eye and contained samples of the different types of rock returned by the Apollo astronauts. The samples also came as microscope slides allowing the granular fine structure to be seen using polarised light.
The first SAS observing meeting of the new Millenium. January 8th 2000. A cold night providing some nice views of the southern sky as this photograph by Mike Williams clearly testifies.
Members observing the planets from Rodington, a darkish site quite close to Telford. The meeting was quite well attended (as they frequently are) and Simon Clayton-Jones was there to make sure everyone saw Saturn and Jupiter through his 8" LX200. Bet their dark adaption was wrecked after the flash went off. Pictures by Gillian Grafton.
A scene from the observing meeting held in Craven Arms. 15 Members observed visually (M31, M81, M97, M1, M45, M42 amongst others) through some 20x75 binoculars and an 8" F4.5 reflector (the grey sewing box was used by some younger members to stand on when looking through the eyepiece) prior to a demonstration of CCD imaging. Images and dark frames were taken while everyone watched and then a preliminary reduction undertaken. Examples of the images obtained that night (Spiral Galaxy M61 and Planetary Nebula M97) can be seen on the deep sky page.
The night was clear and cold, providing a good excuse for lots of breaks for coffee, tea and biscuits. People left from 10pm onward. The meeting finally ended at 3am when thin cloud stopped play for the diehards.
May 1998 saw the last Craven Arms observing meeting - as the host is moving. Before dark a committee meeting was held and plans for forthcoming meetings were prepared. Later 10 or 12 members gathered in the garden to observe using an 8" F4.5 Newtonian reflector, an 8" Meade LX200, an ETX and the society 6" scope.
The night was fairly clear - improving as it progressed - with occasional exceptional seeing. Many objects were observed including the low M4 in Scorpius (between houses), M10, M81, M13 and many more. Some imaging was undertaken including the edge on galaxy M82, planetary nebula M27 and the globular cluster M56.
Early in the evening we were treated to a -2 mag Iridium flare. Which was a first for many people present. Short and sharp, but very bright. The -7 flares must really be worth seeing.
Planetary Nebula M27 -
The Dumbell
The M27 picture was taken using a camera developed by Simon Clayton-Jones and software by Grant Privett which stacked and co-added images automatically. This allowed us to watch as the sky background became flatter and fainter stars appeared. The software still needs work but first indications ae that it works reasonably well.
People left from midnight onward. The meeting finally ended at 3.15am when fatigue took its toll. The last observer stayed out long enough to see the first hints of dawn. Thanks to all who turned up. It was great fun.
Dark winter nights. A great time to observe. Yes, it can be very cold indeed, but if you dress up well that need not stop you as we proved here. These are two pictures taken by Grant Privett about 2am one winter morning with 4inches of snow on the ground and the temperature hovering around -10C. The large scope is Owen Brazells silhouetted against the glow from a distant town. Wearing two pairs of everything except t-shirts (I wore 3) made it easy. The nice people from the Guildford Astronomical Society made it even easier.
Lots of members arrived at Rodington on March 3rd 2007. The total eclipse began early in the evening and the sky was clear throughout so everyone got a good view. These atmoshperic pictures by Sue Cain show some of the action involved as members tried to capture the sight on camera or via the eyepiece.
This is a photograph taken, processed and printed by member Rachel Privett. Entitled "Evening Star", it came 5th in the 1994 NAW/Astronomy Now photograph competition. The aim was to show "The enjoyment of astronomy".
Dave Woodward and Simon Clayton-Jones providing the villagers of Shrawardine with a quick tour of the universe. Alas, rain fell steadily so observing could not occur. But the audience seemed quite happy with the afternoon.
Photograph taken by a Shropshire Star photographer showing committee members Mark Wiggin, Jacqui Dodds and Simon Clayton-Jones (kneeling) hugging a Meade LX200 scope and a picture of Mars. The idea was to publicise the society and the close opposition of Mars in 2001.
These are photographs of the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida taken by Rachel and Grant Privett during a visit in September 2000. From left to right we have the shuttle launch being prepared, a Lunar Excursion Module, a Saturn 5 showing most clearly the Apollo command module, the Vehicle Assembly Building and the rear end of the Saturn 5 with Rachel shown for scale.
The shuttle being readied was the 100th shuttle launch. It was about a mile from where the picture was taken using a 200ASA film and a 200mm lens.
The Solar Observatory on Tenerife one of the Canary Islands. This impressive collection of buildings lies high on the caldera wall of the dormant volcano Teide - one of the highest points in europe. The picture was taken by Grant Privett.
The legendary Palomar Observatory in California, lies roughly 2 hours drive from San Diego. The countryside is quite pretty around there and the drive to the plateau provides many viewpoints. The first view of the dome through the conifers is wonderful. Close up the dome looks even better. Alas, the displays inside look like they date from the 1970's and have yet to be updated. Yes, its a working scope but surely they could improve things a bit! Grant Privett.
Inside the dome of the JCMT. Taken in ambient light this shows the membrane through which the scope sees the microwave sky and gives an idea what an impressive piece of engineering this is. Grant Privett.
After Solar workshops in 1993 and 1994 were clouded out, a third attempt at Condover in July 1995 met with success. The practical investigations enabled sunspot longitude, latitude and magnetic variation to be determined. It was interesting and fun. An afternoon for the whole family. Just for once the weather obliged. Photograph by David Woodward.
A view of the 4 metre telescope on La Palma. Taken just before sunrise showing the blue steel colour of the earths shadow on the distant haze. The photo does not show the cold wind. Grant Privett. June 1996.
A view from the summit of Mauna Kea. Hawaii may be tropical but the top of Mauna Kea frequently has snowfall and howling gales. You then have to watch for lethal blocks of ice sliding off the domes and falling 30ft onto your head - one dented the roof of the car I was in. The air may be thin, but it is cold. The JCMT is the second from the left and the new Keck can be seen while still under construction. Grant Privett. Feb 1995.
The ancient stone ring in Avebury, Wiltshire. Just after sunset in August 1990, the full Moon was just rising between the backlit stones. Saturn can be just seen between the trees on the right hand side.
The ancient (older than the pyramids) neolithic stone ring at Steness on the island of Orkney. After 10 o'clock on 28th September 2007 silhouetted by the gibbous Moon. Taken using a simple digital camera that permitted a 30s exposure. Grant Privett. A lovely night with oinly the sound of wading birds to distract from the sky and aurora above. Appears in the Jan 2008 issue of Sky and Telescope.
This page last modified 21st August 2008. Copyright of all images remains with whoever took the image/photograph.