Wiltshire Astronomical Society Posts

In a change to our normal arrangements, we have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday 5th December which will be ONLINE only, using Zoom, scheduled for 19:45 join, with an 20:00 start. Please do not attend the hall at Seend.

This month, we welcome friend of the society, Martin Griffiths who will give a talk on our “Winter Skies”. Members and non-members are welcome to join the meeting using the details below:

Meeting URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85816052255?pwd=VnJIRlZ0V2hMQnZvbmdoN2VnUk8yZz09
Meeting ID: 858 1605 2255 
Passcode: 353585

Note, in the absence of a Speaker Secretary we are encouraging members to come forward to offer talks or informal sessions on any space or astronomy related topic. Please see our Society Roles page if you’re interested in getting involved and helping the society move forward.

** UPDATE AT TU 2023-12-05 14:30 **

Many thanks to Andy Burns for putting together the 2023 December newsletter (download link).

Clear skies.

We have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday 7th November at the usual place, Irene Usher Memorial Pavilion at Seend for 19:45 arrive, for an 20:00 start.

This month will be no speaker but a members practical session, with an opportunity for members ask questions, do any show and tells on equipment of software.

Note, in the absence of a Speaker Secretary we are encouraging members to come forward to offer talks or informal sessions on any space or astronomy related topic. Please see our Society Roles page if you’re interested in getting involved and helping the society move forward.

** UPDATE on 2023-11-07 14:26 **

Please see link to the Nov 2023 newsletter, many thanks to Andy Burns for putthing this together.

Clear skies.

We have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday 3rd October at the usual place, Irene Usher Memorial Pavilion at Seend for 19:45 arrive, for an 20:00 start.

This month, Andy Burns has kindly volunteered to give a talk “Dark Nebulae” to allow us to keep our format of an in-person monthly meeting. Note, in the absence of a Speaker Secretary we have no plans for future in-person meetings. Please see our Society Roles page if you’re interested in getting involved and helping the society move forward.

Please see the September 2023 newsletter, available to download on this link. Thanks to Andy for compling this again.

Clear skies.

We are back after our Summer break for July and August and have several things to update you on.

We have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday 5th September at the usual place, Irene Usher Memorial Pavilion at Seend for 19:45 arrive, for an 20:00 start. We have a speaker, an existing WAS member Jon Gale, now based in West Wales, who has kindly offered to provide a talk on “Observing the Lunar 100”.

You’ll notice that we have not been able to provide an updated programme of talks for the new 23-24 season as we are a volunteer has yet to step forward to act as Speaker Coordinator, see our Society Roles page for further details if you would like to help.

There are a number of vacant positions on the society committee, as yet unfilled, so we will be continuing to request members who would like the society to continue offer some support.

** UPDATE on TUE 2023-09-05 15:57 **

Thank you to Andy for again putting together the September 2023 newsletter, please download here

Clear skies

This month is our last meeting of the current year and is scheduled for Tuesday 6th June for an in-person meeting at at 19:45 (20:00 meeting start) at the Hall in Seend (see meeting page for further details).

This month, we welcome the always enjoyable Andrew Lound who will be giving a talk entitled “Venus Paradise Lost”. Also, we will hold an AGM. This is an important AGM since we will be asking for volunteers to step by to fill several roles in the society for people retiring, Andy as chair and Peter as speaker secretary. We thank them enormously for their efforts.

Since we haven’t had any volunteers as yet to fill this roles, principally the speakercoordinator, this inevitably means our next year, starting in September 2023 will have to change format, from organised in-person meetings with a dedicated speaker.

To help people understand what help the society needs to function and expections of the volunteer roles, please see our new page on “Society Roles” https://wasnet.org.uk/society-roles/. This page details the name of the role, expectations and the current incumbent. We will discuss this at the AGM.

UPDATE. Please see download link to 2023 June newsletter. Many thanks to Andy for putting this together.

Clear skies

For our montly meeting this month, scheduled for Tuesday 2nd May, this will be held online only using Zoom (joining details below). Please do not meet at the Hall in Seend as we have no booking. Society members and non-members are welcome to join the Zoom call.

This month, we welcome Dr Paul A Daniels FRAS, who will be giving a talk on “The Megaconstellation Threat”.

Zoom Meeting Details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89296312967?pwd=NGFZRnBjV2xsY3dhU00vZG5YMHBpZz09
Meeting ID: 892 9631 2967
Passcode: 428426
Start Time: 19:30 for an 20:00 start with the Talk.

On the zoom call, we will outline some options for the future of the society for next year. The current Chair and Speaker Coordinator are stepping down after many years of giving their time and energy. So far, no volunteers have come forward. Without new and willing volunteers to help, it will not be possible for the society to continue in its current form.

For the June 6th 2023 meeting, we will be back to the Hall in Seend for our AGM and final monthly meeting of this current year before our Summer break.

UPDATE on TU 2023-05-02 @ 15:54. Please see attached our monthly newsletter kindly put together by Andy Burns.

Clear skies

For our April meeting this month scheduled for Tuesday 4th April at 19:45 (20:00 meeting start) at the Hall in Seend, we welcome Chris Starr who will give a talk on “Heavy Metal World”. Please see our meetings page for more details.

Our next scheduled observing session at Lacock is Friday 14th April (weather dependant). Please sign up to the observing mailing list on our observing page which gives further details.

** UPDATE @ 2023-04-04 15:29 BST. ** Andy has dutifully put together this month’s newsletter download link below. The society is in urgent need for volunteers in order for it to continue, so please read this month’s newsletter and consider if and how you can help.

Click to Download the April 2023 Newletter

Clear skies

For our March meeting this month scheduled for Tuesday 7th March at 19:45 (20:00 meeting start) at the Hall in Seend, we welcome a Mary McIntyre who will give a talk on “Shadows in Space & the stories they tell”. Please see our meetings page for more details.

Our next scheduled observing session at Lacock is Friday 17th March (weather dependant). Please sign up to the observing mailing list on our observing page which gives further details.

UPDATE 2023-03-07 14:09. Many thanks to Andy for putting together the March 2023 newsletter, see link to download below.

Clear skies

For our monthly meeting this month scheduled for Tuesday 7th February at 19:45 at the Hall in Seend, we welcome a regular speaker, Prof. David Southwood. Prof Southwood will give a talk on “The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE)”, so not one to miss. Please see our meetings page for more details.

Also, keep an eye on our observing page and observing-specific mailing list for info on the upcoming observing sessions.

** UPDATE AT TU 2023-02-07 14:59 **

Thanks again to Andy for putting together the newsletter for this month, link below.