Current Moon Phase (Courtesy US Naval Observatory) |
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Daily Sunspot Image (Courtesy NASA SOHO) |
Practical Meetings
Practical Meetings are at Arlington Village Hall, near to the Yew Tree Inn, Arlington, from September/October to April, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. depending on the day. An informal lecture including observing (weather permitting), star identification, binocular viewing and often the Society's 12 inch Dobsonian telescope (pictured below) will be available. Refreshments are provided.The entrance to the hall is about 50 metres from the Inn. Click here for a location map. The change from Pevensey to Arlington is a trial, offering a dark location with a hall and good kitchen facilities. This can also be located in the Philip's Ordnance Survey East Sussex Street Atlas page 150 square E3. It is hoped that by holding practical meetings on a Friday and a Sunday during the darker nights more members would be able to come.
These evenings are well worth attending, as they provide an opportunity for beginners to become familiar with the night sky - to learn the constellation patterns, locate 'hard-to-find' star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and to explore the surface of the Moon and planets under the guidance of experienced observers - as well as for informal discussion and the exchange of ideas. Click here for a 5-day weather forecast from the BBC. If the weather is clear there will be observing relative to that evening's topic. Otherwise there will be a short talk and discussion on that, or indeed any other subject with a connection to astronomy. Members are invited to bring their own telescopes, especially if they are not sure how to get the best out of them.
The Society's 12-inch (30cms) f6 Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mounting. This telescope, which was assembled by members, is transportable so it is brought along to our Practical Meetings and to the public observing sessions we arrange.
Observing Sessions Arlington Village Hall. 2009/2010
| 23rd October 2009 | Jupiter - and other planets. | |
| 20th November 2009 | Winter Constellations | |
| 18th December 2009 | A demonstration of the Celestron Sky Scout. (This is an electronic "personal planetarium" that has been very kindly donated to the society by a member.) | |
| 15th January 2010 | ||
| 12th February 2010 | ||
| 12th March 2010 | ||
| 16th April 2010 |
IYA 2009 Autumn Moonwatch - Saturday & Sunday 24th & 25th October.
The society's contribution to this will be two public observing sessions at Helen Gardens (at the Meads end of Eastbourne seafront) from 6pm to 8pm (BST) on 24th and at the same time (GMT) on 25th, weather permitting.Members with telescopes are encouraged to bring them to this event so that there are plenty available. Jupiter will also be on view.