Due to the current situation regarding the Covid 19 virus, we have taken the decision to suspend all society meetings and outreach events until further notice. This action has not been taken lightly but to reduce the risk of the spread of this virus and protect the more vulnerable members of our society and their loved ones.
We will keep you updated as events unfold and of course when meetings resume.
Stay safe
John Craythorne (Chair)
GCSE Astronomy at Springwood High School
Last Summer we were asked if we could assist with the launch of a GCSE Astronomy Course at Springwood High School, King’s Lynn. We were happy to do a 30 min presentation to introduce the wonders of astronomy to year 10 pupils. This resulted in over 40 pupils attending and 30+ of these signing up for the two year course.
Since then we have assisted staff by providing practical observing sessions and sharing our knowledge with the pupils once a week during November and December when weather permitted. We will continue to do this next Autumn when the dark skies return.
So we were very pleased to receive this thank you from Matt Adcock, lead teacher on the Astronomy course.
“I’d like to thank you and your colleagues for all that you’ve done supporting the new Astronomy course at Springwood High School. We certainly would not have had as much interest in the course without your input and although the weather has been against us I know the students have enjoyed the practical activities immensely.”
Outreach is what we do and I like to think we do well.
John Craythorne
Chair King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society
A DAY AT SCHOOL
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!
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 
the 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!!
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.
We 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.
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
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
Star 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
Junior Stargazing Live – Saturday 3pm-8pm
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]](http://www.westnorfolkastro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/image.jpeg)
Supernova! Talk by Dr Morgan Fraser Monday 9th November
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!
More info at weblink below
http://www.westnorfolkastro.co.uk/event/supernova-dr-organ-frazier-ioa/
Junior Stargazing Live – Sat 14th Nov
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! 🙂
Outreach Event for the North Runcton Beaver Group
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.
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
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