For those interested, the very nice video of the Parkes field trip is now on the Media page of the website. Depending on your browser, it will launch there or in a YouTube page.
NSAS Activities for July
7 07 2011After the great success of the Parkes trip, I’m afraid July may be a let-down, but we’ve got a great speaker, and our other programs will continue. Next Tuesday the 12th the Theory Group continues it’s series of lectures on Understanding the Universe. On Tuesday the 19th, we have our GM, and our speaker is Dr. Baerbel Koribalski, who will speak about the WALLABY project she heads up. The NAG will continue its course of enlightenment on observing on Tuesday the 26th, this month looking at collimation and go-to scopes. Observing is scheduled for the Fridays of the 22nd and 29th. For those of you who haven’t been to a meeting last month, don’t forget that we have moved to Regis Hall for all our meetings, which start at 7:30 PM. Directions are on the website.
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Categories : Events, General Meeting, Meetings, NAG, Observing, Speakers, Theory Group
Alex Fillippenko Talk – Speaker Change (!)
16 06 2011Alex Fillippenko has had to pull out at the last moment, and the Sunday talk at the Powerhouse will now be by Prof. Robert Kirshner (Harvard Uni), who also works on Dark Energy. The time is the same, and Fred Watson will introduce the speaker.
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Categories : Events, News, Speakers
Seaforth Public School Outreach
10 06 2011
NSAS supported the opening of the Space Gallery at Seaforth Public School Thursday night the 9th with a table and our pop-ups. The teachers and children (Primary) had done a wonderful job of putting together some very professional resources into a Space-themed hallway display, including some collections from serious collectors in this area. The evening was attended by (it seemed) thousands (see pics), who crowded into the auditorium for various stands selling books, Oz Geographic, cakes, and, us. David Malin opened the Space Gallery, and then drew the raffle tickets! He seems as ubiquitous as NSAS at the moment. Anyway, we got some “hits” from interested families, so it was all worthwhile, and we’ve offered to support any future Star Parties.
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Categories : Events, News
Parramatta Park Stargazing – Cloud and Rain
5 06 2011The Parramatta Park Stargazing event on June 4th went ahead despite cloudy skies. Members from other clubs set up their scopes on the field. Four NSAS members attended, however we decided it was not worthwhile to set up our scopes. We only got to see one star (probably Sirius) through a gap in the clouds.
The talk by David Malin was held in a large tent and was well attended. The talk made it worth the trip.
Bob also set up a stand to promote NSAS and we handed out pamphlets.
And here’s a video…
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Categories : Events, Video
NSAS Activities for June
1 06 2011Once again, another busy month for NSAS in June, with the high point being the field trip to Parkes and the Dish. Our month begins as usual with the Theory Group on Tuesday the 14th, followed by the General Meeting on the 21st. Our speaker will be Jonathon Horner from UNSW, and his talk will be “Jupiter – Friend or Foe”. The GM is followed by the trip to Parkes on the weekend of 25/26 June. This has been well-advertised, and we have about 25 people going, but if you’ve missed it, please contact us ASAP. Finally, we finish up the month with the New Astronomer’s Group on Tuesday the 28th. Observing will be on Friday the 3rd, and while we have it scheduled for Friday the 24th, everyone will be in transit to Parkes, so this will be cancelled.
As many of you know, from June NSAS moves to Regis Hall, Regis Campus, St. Ignatius for all future meetings. It’s very easy to find, and there will be directions on the NSAS website, and as well. It’s just as well, as we were outgrowing the Sports Pavilion with all the new members this year.
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Categories : Events, General Meeting, Meetings, NAG, Observing, Speakers, Theory Group
Parramatta Park Star Party – Sat. June 4th
31 05 2011On June 4th 2011, NSAS will participate in the Parramatta Park Star Gazing event.
Join us for a fascinating evening with amateur astronomers who will share their passion for the night sky. This is a FREE EVENT presented by Parramatta Park Trust in association with Northern Sydney Astronomical Society, Sutherland Astronomical Society, Astronomical Society of New South Wales, Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group and 3RF Australia.
Amateur Astronomers will be set up in Salter’s Field with their telescopes and will be able to show you objects in deep space through their amazing equipment.In addition from 6 pm to 7 pm David Malin will present a talk about his research into Governor Brisbane’s 1822 Parramatta Observatory.
This park will stay open to allow easy access to the viewing ground in the darker areas of the park on Salter’s Field. Enter through either Macquarie St or Queens Road and drive around to Salter’s Field.
Food and refreshment will be available on site.
So rug up, bring a torch covered with red cellophane to allow your eyes to adjust to the low light and be prepared to be amazed.
The event runs from 5.30pm until 8pm. Members bringing scopes can arrive from 4.00pm.
The location is Salter Field at Parramatta Park. Here is a map of Parramatta Park and more information is on the Parramatta Park web site.
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Categories : Events
New Astronomers Group – Tuesday May 24th
23 05 2011The New Astronomers’ Group for May will be held on Tuesday 24th and will cover the practical issues of using various types of telescopes and mounts.
The topics will include:
- The main types of mounts available
- Their advantages/disadvantages
- Matching telescope type to mount types (which work best together)
- Which mounts work best for visual observing vs. photography
- Tracking
- Finding objects in the sky (Manual vs. Setting circles vs. goto systems)
We will have some telescopes set up for a practical demonstration of the most common types of mounts.
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Categories : Events, NAG
NSAS Events for May
2 05 2011We have the usual busy month ahead in May for NSAS, with the Theory Group meeting Tuesday the 10th, the New Astronomers Group restarting after a break at Easter on Tuesday the 24th, and Bob Roeth entertaining us again with one of his “fifth Tuesday” math-rated astronomy exercises on the 31st. The General Meeting his month is Tuesday the 17th, and we’re lucky to have been able to get Jason Spyromilio, from the European Space Organisation, who is visiting, to talk to us about the ESO’s new ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) project. As usual, all meetings are at St. Ignatius, starting at 7:30 PM. Also as usual, visitors are welcome to the General Meeting and NAG.
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Categories : Events, General Meeting, Maths, NAG, Speakers, Theory Group
Mount Wilson viewing, April 30th
13 04 2011To all interested Observers, the following from John Walker, who has been attending a course at USyd by John O’Byrne, who sent the following:
To ‘friends’ of the University of Sydney’s CCE Astronomy and Physics courses:
Once again I am having one of my periodic expeditions up to Mt Wilson in the Blue Mountains on Saturday 30 April to look at stars. Everyone is welcome and please feel free to bring a friend (or a telescope!)
As usual, we meet at the Cathedral of Ferns camping ground at Mt Wilson, eat, then start viewing when it gets dark (after about 6:30). Some people will camp overnight but you may prefer to go home or stay somewhere in the mountains.
Come dressed for a cold night!
Maps and the usual details can be found at
http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne/cep/Mtwilson.html
http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/~obyrne/cep/Mtwilson.html
For NSAS Observers, note that if it is a clear night, we might also be going to Linden Observatory, where we’ve been trying to have our inaugural observing with WSAAG.
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Categories : Events, Observing
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