South West Herts Astronomical Society

SWHAS Monthly Meeting Jan 2021
2021-01-29 20:00 - 21:30 UTC | Online Event, United Kingdom
Astronomical Instrumentation before the Telescope – Mike Leggett
There were many astronomical instruments before the introduction of the astronomical telescope.
After a brief historical introduction, Mike will talk about some of these instruments and their uses:
• Observational/measuring tools, including Ptolemy’s Rules, Jacob’s Staff and Quadrant
• Astronomical devices used to represent the sky, including armillary sphere and astrolabe
• Measuring time, including sundials and clocks
Dr. Mike Leggett is a founder member of the South Lincolnshire Astronomical and Geophysical Society in 1976. Mike began to present astronomy talks for his local society. He has since presented lectures for the British Interplanetary Society, at University of Aberdeen evening classes, for the Society for the History of Astronomy and to astronomical societies and other groups throughout the UK.
Currently Vice Chairman of the Milton Keynes Astronomical Society, Mike has also served as Chairman and Secretary. A former Council Member and Publicity Officer for the Society for the History of Astronomy (SHA), he is also county co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Rutland in the SHA survey of astronomical history of the UK. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, Mike Leggett is also a member of the British Astronomical Association, the National Space Society and the Planetary Society.
A Graduate in Chemistry and Pharmacology from the University of Nottingham, Dr Leggett also holds a PhD in Chemistry. A Chartered Chemist and a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he is a member of the Astrophysical Chemistry Group. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Technical Authorship and Communication and is Member of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators.
PhD (chemistry) (1986).
Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (since 1986).
Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society (since 1984).
Founder member (2002) and Publicity Officer/Council Member (since 2011) of the Society for the History of Astronomy (SHA); County Co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Rutland in the SHA Survey of Astronomical History.
Member of the British Astronomical Association (since 1993), the Planetary Society (since 1996), Society for Popular Astronomy (since 2013), the William Herschel Society (since 2014) and the National Space Society (2016).
Member of the Milton Keynes Astronomical Society (since 1993) and currently Publicity Officer.

SWHAS Monthly Meeting Oct. 2020
2020-10-30 20:00 - 21:30 (Europe/Paris) | Online Event, United Kingdom
Friday 30 October 2020 at 20:00 – 21:30 GMT
“A VIRTUAL TOUR OF MY HOME OBSERVATORY” – IAIN MELVILLE.
Iain will take us on a tour of his observatory, including a brief chat about the computer running things – a RaspBerry Pi.
He will talk about the choice of cameras, filters, etc. and what is not yet automated and why.
He will also be looking at the software and file management side of things and how he operates the observatory from inside the house when imaging. Iain will explain how he executes his imaging tasks using the raspberry Pi – from target selection, scheduling setup to focussing. He will also go into target centring via plate solving, autoguiding, calibration and monitoring.
You might remember Iain did a talk for us some years ago (March 2011) on Astrometry, so he will give us a brief recap on the astrometric programme and a review of Astro Pixel Processor (the new software he is using) with live image processing.
There will be lots to learn from this tour, both for the novice and the seasoned astronomer alike !
This is a free event for SWHAS members and a Zoom meeting link for the event will be emailed out nearer the time.

An Introduction to Astrophotography - Stephen Heliczer / Martin Weston
2020-09-25 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Online Event, United Kingdom
*** PLEASE NOTE : This will now be an online event. Regrettably all events at the RMS are still suspended until further notice. ***
*** Members will receive an email with details of how to join this online talk before 25th September 2020. ***
Let Steve and Martin introduce you to the rapidly expanding universe of Astro-Photography!
This talk will be suitable to anyone with a telescope (even if it is currently stored in the cupboard under the stairs) and an interest in astronomy. If you have not yet even considered taking pictures of the night sky, or you have experimented with a phone or SLR camera with variable results, we are sure you will pick up some useful tips and hopefully inspiration to guide you further along the way.
Although it may seem rather daunting at first, capturing images is great fun and highly rewarding and excellent results can be achieved with the most basic of equipment. It is a great way of sharing your interest in astronomy with friends and family who are not quite so keen freezing outdoors at midnight on a winter’s evening!
Steve will introduce you to what you can expect to capture during your first steps and Martin will demonstrate what can be achieved with some further practice and the correct approach. Even with the most basic equipment you will be able to record images simply not possible a few years ago with some of the biggest telescopes in the world.
When you look at an image you have taken yourself, and really think about that image, it will give you and your family a whole new perspective on the universe. It will also give you something to show for your hobby, and with practice, something unique to hang on your wall!

‘Your Universe’ outreach festival of Astronomy at UCL
2020-03-07 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, Wilkins Building, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
Celebrating 30 years of the Hubble Space Telescope.
UCL’s Your Universe outreach festival of Astronomy takes place on 6th (schools only) and 7th March (public).

Meet scientists, try out telescopes and observe the Sun and Moon
Evening panel discussion (6:30pm) – 30 years of the Hubble Space Telescope

Chaired by Francisco Diego

For further information please visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/your-universe/
For the 30 years of HST panel discussion please click on this Eventbrite registration link: https://tinyurl.com/ry358p9

Herschel’s Planet - Mike Foulkes
2020-02-28 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Royal Masonic School, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 4HF, United Kingdom
The planet Uranus was discovered by William Herschel on 13 March 1781- the first planet to be discovered since ancient times. This talk will provide a top level overview of the Uranus system including the planet itself, its satellites and rings, both from amateur and professional observations. This description will be set in part, in the context of Herschel’s discovery of the planet and his subsequent observations.
Mike is the director of the British Astronomical Association’s (BAA) Saturn, Uranus and Neptune Section and is also on the committee of the BAA’s Jupiter Section. He has been interested in astronomy since a young age and is an active observer; particularly of the Moon and planets. Mike also has been to a number of Total Eclipses of the Sun. For many years, he has given various talks to amateur astronomical societies and also participates in the BAA Back to Basics courses, which are aimed at beginners in amateur astronomy.
Mike has worked in the spacecraft industry for a number of years on both communications and scientific satellites. Apart from astronomy, his interests include rock music, sport and hill walking.

Getting light from the darkness - the story of the biggest telescopes - Peter Grimley
2020-01-31 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Royal Masonic School, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 4HF, United Kingdom
When it comes to telescopes, bigger has (almost) always been better. All through history, astronomers have realized that gathering more light meant seeing more and more interesting things. That is as true for today’s astronomers as it was for Galileo. In this talk, Peter will look at some of the world’s biggest telescopes – from the early attempts to make accurate lenses, to the technological marvels that now inhabit some of the most outlandish places on Earth.
Peter’s career began in professional astronomy. He has a PhD in extragalactic astronomy from the University of Wales and held research positions in academic institutions in Ireland. His main research interests were around star formation in nearby galaxies and the evolution of active galaxies and quasars. He then changed direction and spent a number of years in the UK civil service developing UK and EU agriculture policy. In time he began to miss the feelings of awe and wonder that contemplating the Universe brings, and he left the civil service to become a freelance astronomy writer and presenter. Peter gives talks and presentations to a variety of audiences and contributes to the European Southern Observatory’s public outreach programme. He has a deep interest in music, playing several instruments quite badly, and also enjoys photography, modern dance, horse-riding and chocolate.
