King's Lynn and District Astronomy Society

Promoting astronomy for all ages across West Norfolk

A DAY AT SCHOOL

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Alan Gosling and John Craythorne went back to school for a day on 8th March. We were invited to spend a day talking to and interacting with all the pupils and staff at Holly Meadows Primary School, Pott Road, near King’s Lynn.

With a variety of illustrated guides to Space, the Solar System, and the Universe at large, we also gave the youngest children the chance to be a part of a scale model of the Solar System using our 2m high image of the Sun and various fruits to represent the planets.

The day was a follow up to a very successful children and parent evening a few weeks earlier with over 150 people present and several telescopes set up outside for everyone to see first hand some of the wonders of the night sky.

ASTRONOMY SOCIETY STARGAZING LIVE EVENT A SUCCESS!

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Well our Stargazing Live event got off to a good start as we played host to Radio Norfolk’s Treasure Hunt on Sunday 17/01/2016. John managed to hide the clue on the International Space Station, alright our model of it!! After some thinking on the acquired clue they finally jumped back in their car and sped off over 1the horizon. Would just like to say a huge thank you to all of you boys and girls who helped us out during the day.

 

The grand opening took place at 2pm by the King’s Lynn Deputy Mayor and Mayoress Cllr David and Mrs Linda Whitby and Downham Market Mayor and Mayoress Cllr John and Mrs Margaret Fox. As always we were well supported by the local dignitaries. They made short work of our tea and biscuits!!    

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As always we had a good sortment of scopes and binos in the field next to the hall and due to the moons current phase we were able to show the public the moon by daylight. The sun occasionally came out for those with the relevant filters. But as usual the good old British weather let us down in the evening with plenty of low cloud, hey ho getting used to it now.

3We had nearly 200 people through the doors though, so a very reasonable turn out. They came in a steady flow all day so we weren’t rushed off our feet and had time to answer questions and help a few with their scopes. A good selection of displays inside with the usual colouring for the kiddies. Had some scopes inside too with software and videos running on our laptops. As always Dave Coombes did a marvellous job in the kitchen looking after us members as well as the public.

 

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So all in all a really good day enjoyed by everyone. Looking forward to next year’s now.

 Clear Skies Everyone.

Leon Askew, Membership Secretary

Outreach to The Marshland Society

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Outreach to The Marshland Society.

Venue: Terrington St Clement Village Hall

Monday 11/01/2016 found us giving a talk, display and obs session to the Marshland Society It was a very good turnout approx 40-45 people. Our Chariman John Craythorne’s talk went down very well with a nice little Q & A session afterwards. They were very impressed with our telescope and binocular display and came for a good look around after the talk. We were very lucky too, as the sky cleared for a brief time so we were able to show them the constellations and let them have a look at the Orion Nebula which they were well impressed with. So it all went off very well and I think we may get asked back in the future as seems to be the normal now.

Leon Askew
Membership Secretary

Stargazing Live – Sunday 17th January

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imageStar Gazing Live Sunday 17th January 2016

It’s back again for the fourth year. King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society will be presenting our own Star Gazing Live event at Tottenhill Village Hall Whin Common Road post code PE33 0RS on Sunday 17th January 2016.
The theme this year will be the Exploration of Space and will include various models of spacecraft over the past 60 years with information of many space missions together with images and videos of the missions.
As always there will be a variety of telescopes and binoculars available for you to look through if the sky is clear.
A children’s corner with colouring and constellation chart making together with games.
Refreshments will also be available including hot and cold drinks and a burger van.
The event starts at 2pm until 8pm
AND ENTRY IS FREE

John Craythorne – Chairman

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Junior Stargazing Live – Saturday 3pm-8pm

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Well it’s almost here folks!

We are putting on another Junior Stargazing Live event this Saturday. FREE ADMISSION

After our previous successful event with around 260 visitors, we expect possibly even bigger crowds this time with darker skies in November.
Subject to weather conditions we will have a variety of telescopes on display with our members own telescopes being demonstrated. Please keep your fingers crossed for the weather!

A Tombola and crafting and colouring will be available to younger visitors to learn about Space and Astronomy. Also information and videos and astrophotography on display to view. A refreshments fast food van will be onsite and we will be offering Tea and Coffee.

Note to parents/guardians: Please could you advise your children to follow our members lead and please only touch the telescopes when asked to by an experienced member. Thank you! 🙂

See you all Saturday!

Dad and three sons on a clear night looking thru a telescope Check out this light box with other Astronaut/Space Images by Nashville Photographer, Dieter Spears, Owner of Inhaus Creative. [url=http://www.istockphoto.com/search/lightbox/2459726#898cb29][img]http://dieterspears.com/istock/links/button_space.jpg[/img][/url]

Supernova! Talk by Dr Morgan Fraser Monday 9th November

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A reminder we have Dr Morgan Fraser from Cambridge Institute of Astronomy giving us a talk tomorrow evening. Monday 9th November. 7:30pm.

£3 Members, £5 non members. If this is your first visit to one of our talk nights you will be granted free admission, compliments of the Society.

I’ve seen Dr Fraser give this talk during my visit to Cambridge IOA and its well worth it. Supernovae are the seeds of life!

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More info at weblink below

http://www.westnorfolkastro.co.uk/event/supernova-dr-organ-frazier-ioa/

Junior Stargazing Live – Sat 14th Nov

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We are happy to announce we will be hosting another Junior Stargazing Live event.

After our previous successful event with around 260 visitors, we expect possibly even bigger crowds this time with darker skies in November.
Subject to weather conditions we will have a variety of telescopes on display with our members own telescopes being demonstrated.

A Tombola and crafting and colouring will be available to younger visitors to learn about Space and Astronomy. Also information and videos and astrophotography on display to view. A refreshments fast food van will be onsite and we will be offering Tea and Coffee.

Note to parents/guardians: Please could you advise your children to follow our members lead and please only touch the telescopes when asked to by an experienced member. Thank you! 🙂

Dad and three sons on a clear night looking thru a telescope Check out this light box with other Astronaut/Space Images by Nashville Photographer, Dieter Spears, Owner of Inhaus Creative. [url=http://www.istockphoto.com/search/lightbox/2459726#898cb29][img]http://dieterspears.com/istock/links/button_space.jpg[/img][/url]

Outreach Event for the North Runcton Beaver Group

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Outreach Event for the North Runcton Beaver Group

Friday 02 October

Well our first outreach event of the new season got us off to a flying start. We were invited to do a talk and observation evening for the children of North Runcton Beaver Scout Group as they were having a sleepover at the village hall. John entertained them with one of his wonderful talks while Alan and I got on with setting up our scopes. We were very fortunate with the weather, it was crystal clear skies overhead. Good old Ursa Major was in full glory and many of our old favourites were shining down on us in all their splendour.

The_Ursa_Major

When the little ones came out to join us their enthusiasm was very loud!!! John, Alan and myself were kept very busy showing them as much as we could. I think the adults were just as keen as the children. But as usual with children, all interest in the stars above soon disappeared when the laser pens came out, it was all we could do to keep hold of them!! But it was a good start and we all enjoyed ourselves. That’s it for this one, but we are off to Titchwell on Wednesday evening so I will report back on that event later. Wishing you all clear skies!!

Leon Askew
Membership Secretary

Upcoming New Season! September

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Our new season kicks of with the Members Annual General Meeting on Monday 14th September. If there is still time, John Craythorne will give a talk on the Autumn Skies and highlights to look out for and we will adjourn if the skies look clear for observation.

Look forward to seeing you all! We have a full calendar booked for the next year, with lots more exciting details to announce at the AGM. For anyone who will be making their first visit, please be aware we offer this visit free. Full door prices and membership prices are detailed on our membership page… The next years line up of Guest speakers is a good one, and we will of course still include beginners talks on how to set up and use a telescope, how to process milky way photos on your computer are just a couple of talks planned by our own members…

Please remember to keep an eye on the EVENTS page for up to date details on upcoming events. Observation sessions are now alternating every other Monday. (subject to weather)

AGM and – Observing the Autumn Skies – John Craythorne
Mon 14 Sep @ 7:25 pm – 9:00 pm

Observation night – starts at 7:30 to 8 pm subject to weather
Mon 21 Sep @ 7:25 pm – 9:30 pm

GAIA- A year on – A Talk by Anna Hourihane (Institute of Astronomy)
Mon 28 Sep @ 7:25 pm – 9:00 pm

Astronomical Delights of September

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Please find links below to some Astronomical Guides for September:

1) Binocular Sky Newsletter http://www.binocularsky.com/newsletter/BinoSkyNL.pdf

2) Mary Spicer’s Things to see in September – http://bit.ly/1Jqispz

3) Paul Moneys September Guide (Revisit this link at a later date as of 31 August Paul hasn’t update it yet… 🙂 http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html

4) Telescope House September Guide
http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Telescope-House-Monthly-Sky-Guide.html

5) Awesome Astronomy for an audio guide to September 2015 http://www.awesomeastronomy.com/

6) The night sky guide for September 2015 by Ian Morison from The Jodrel Bank Centre for Astrophysics http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/