Friday 13th December
Unfortunately the weather has won, & we’ve had to call off the observing (13Dec19)
Check the GAS Website or Facebook Page on the appropriate day for confirmation or cancellation
The planned observing evenings at Albury on 24th or 25th January have both been CANCELLED
Friday 24th or Saturday 25th January 2020
(depending on the weather forecast)
At Albury Cricket Ground
Start Time from 8.00pm onwards.
Please dim your car lights as you arrive on site. Directions are on the GAS members page.
Check the GAS Website or Facebook Page on the appropriate day for confirmation or cancellation
It is less than a week away! Are you ready! Is the weather going to behave? Too many questions!
Here are brief details of the eclipse itself, plus an outline of a plan to meet at a good viewpoint to watch, if you would like to. More complete details of the plan will be sent to all members very shortly by email. So if you are interested, please watch out for it and do come along!
Details of the Eclipse
The whole of the eclipse is visible from the UK. It happens early in the morning (Monday morning too!), before the Sun rises. The following is a summary of the key details :-
02.36h The eclipse begins
03.30h (approx.) The visually interesting (reddish colour) phase should begin
04.41h Totality begins
05.43h Totality ends
07.48h The eclipse ends
08.05h The Moon sets (on a compass bearing of approx. 305 degrees – slightly different to the figure I’ve been publicising!)
Communal Spectating
If you would like to join the communal spectating, please watch out for full details in the email which you should receive shortly. If that email should for any reason fail to reach you, please do get in touch with me via the society’s “training” email address and I’ll send you a copy. Yes – “observing” being arranged by the “training” department! Whatever next?
Google Maps Pewley Down area
Images by Tim Ellison
Something that may be of interest, perhaps.
Professor Michele Dougherty will be delivering the 31st Schrodinger Lecture at Imperial College, London, at 5.30pm on Tuesday 19th February.
The lecture is entitled “The Cassini Spacecraft Mission at Saturn”.
GAS members may recall that Professor Dougherty visited us in May 2016 and gave us a talk about the JUICE (Jupiter’s Icy Moons) Mission.
The lecture is free to attend, and is open to all. But it is necessary to register in advance at the website and obtain a ticket.
The following link should take you to the appropriate web page :- Imperial College
Alternatively, it is fairly easy to find by Googling “Schrodinger Lecture”.
Hoping to see you there if you can make it!!
Help us reclaim our dark skies
Dark, starry skies are one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer. But light pollution means many of us can’t see the stars. We want to reconnect people with the wonder of our glorious night skies.
You can take part in #StarCount2019 and help us map light pollution, to ensure more of us can enjoy the most magical sight the countryside has to offer.
Our Star Count will take place this February, with support from the British Astronomical Association, and we’ll be asking you to look up at the night sky and tell us how many you can see in Orion. You can do this from anywhere in England.
Goto StarCount2019 for more information.
Once again, we are planning to go to Albury Cricket ground for viewing the Geminids Meteor Shower on Friday the 14th of December starting about 9pm.
If it is clear (fingers crossed), we may also see the Comet 46P/Wiltanen, binoculars will be needed for the Comet.
For the Meteors just, a camping chair (recliner preferably), warm blanket and a hot drink is advisable. Needless to say, warm clothing is a must.
The Geminids are the most reliable at 50 or so per hour and at best 120 per hour.
Of course, we do need clear skies for all that, so keep your eyes on the Website and/or Facebook for a possible cancellation but we remain as ever optimistic!!
A talk from the MVGS in Dorking.
The Anthropocene – A new Geological epoch driven by Human Impacts.
Presented by Dr Colin Summerhayes, University of Cambridge.
Meetings are held in the
Dorking United Reformed Church Follett Hall
off Church Street & West Street,
RH4 1BS.
Coffee & biscuits served from 7.30pm.
Lectures start at 8.00 and finish at about 9.30. Visitors are most welcome.
Non-members as Guests £4.00 Children under 18 & students £1.00.
These fees include complimentary tea or coffee and biscuits, sometimes even chocolate ones.
Astronomy Evening
The Astrophysics Group will be holding our monthly astronomy evening on Wednesday 21 March.
Entry is Free, but tickets required
in Lecture Theatre -D-
19.00 – Doors open
19.15 – Talk starts
19.45 – If clear up to the telescopes for stargazing
The Mole valley Geological Society monthly meeting on 8th March 2018 presents
Venus Unveiled by Dr Philippa Mason
At the Dorking United Reformed Church Follett Hall
Post Code – RH4 1BS
Non-members entry fee £4-00
Biscuits from 7:30pm. Lecture starts 8:00 pm
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At Guildford today
To arrange a visit by our Outreach Team (You must have your own PLI) please send an email to .