Bath Astronomers’ Calendar

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Wednesday 24th February
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What are we up to?

Mar31

Talk by Dr Julian Onions - Aperture Fever

31 MarOnline

Wednesday 31st March – Monthly meeting. Topic: Aperture Fever - does my mirror look big in this? After a very brief review of how telescopes work, we look at some of the existing telescopes, both visible and other wavebands, and consider why they are so big, what they can and can't see and what the telescopes planned for the next few years will deliver. Dr Julian Onions has always had an interest in astronomy, and after many years as an amateur went for a Phd in astrophysics at the University of Nottingham. There he studies computer models of galaxy formation using some of the biggest computers in the world, building model universes using mostly dark matter. He also helps out with undergraduate teaching and various outreach activities. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Usually held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Due to COVID-19, this talk will be held online via Zoom Members receive details of the Zoom meeting by email. Members of the public are welcome to join, just request the Zoom details by emailing hello@bathastronomers.org.uk Picture: Dr Julian Onions

Apr28

Talk by Mary McIntyre

28 AprZoom

Wednesday 28th April – Monthly meeting. This month's talk will be given by Mary McIntyre. Mary is a well renown astro artist and astrophotographer. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month online or at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Due to COVID-19, this talk will be held online via Zoom Members receive details of the Zoom meeting by email. Members of the public are welcome to join, just request the Zoom details by emailing hello@bathastronomers.org.uk

May26

Talk by Pete Williamson FRAS

26 MayHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 26th May – Monthly meeting. Topic: From Herschel to Hawkwind Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. All visitors welcome and there is a charge of £5. Reduced to £2 for juniors, students or Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Peter Williamson

Jun30

Talk by Chris Starr, Cassini and Saturn

30 JunHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 30th June – Monthly meeting. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. All visitors welcome and there is a charge of £5 which helps cover the cost of the venue. Reduced to £2 for juniors, students or Bath Astronomers members. Picture: Simon Holbeche

Sep29

BA Monthly talk by Pete Richardson

29 SepZoom

Bath Astronomers meet up every month from September to June for a chat, share information and for a talk by a great speaker. This month's talk will be given by Pete Richardson and is on how to go about building your own 10" or even 20" telescope. Pete completed a 10" Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount in 2020 and is now building a 20" instrument for the back garden. Pete is a renown astrophotographer and a keen amateur astronomer based in Bleadon, W-s-M. He is a member of Wells & Mendip Astronomers. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting are for new comers and members to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month online or at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Doors open at 7:15pm and the events come to a close usually by 9:00pm. Online events are free and museum events have a small entry fee for non-members to help us cover costs. Talks are on the following subjects: practical astronomy, current astro science, and space exploration.

Oct27

BA Monthly talk by Prof Lucie Green

27 OctZoom

Bath Astronomers meet up every month from September to June for a chat, share information and for a talk by a great speaker. This month's talk will be given by Prof Lucie Green and is on the current research on solar physics and the mysteries the Sun holds. Lucie Green is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow based at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL’s Department of Space and Climate Physics. Lucie studies activity in the atmosphere of our nearest star, the Sun, looking in particular at immense magnetic fields in the Sun’s atmosphere which sporadically erupt into the Solar System. Lucie is very active in public engagement with science and delivers fascinating talks to schools, corporations and festivals on astronomy, space weather, climate change and the Sun. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting are for new comers and members to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month online or at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Doors open at 7:15pm and the events come to a close usually by 9:00pm. Online events are free and museum events have a small entry fee for non-members to help us cover costs. Talks are on the following subjects: practical astronomy, current astro science, and space exploration.

Nov24

BA Monthly talk by Hannah Sergeant

24 NovZoom

Bath Astronomers meet up every month from September to June for a chat, share information and for a talk by a great speaker. This month's talk will be given by Hannah Sergeant and is on her research on the lunar regolith or Moon soil to everyone else. Hannah went to the University of Leicester where she was awarded an MSc with distinction in Space Exploration Systems. She is currently studying her PhD at the the Open University in water extraction from the lunar regolith. Hannah is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and was awarded the Amelia Earhart Fellowship in 2019, an international award for women in aerospace science and engineering. In 2020 she was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the field of Science and Healthcare. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting are for new comers and members to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Held on the last Wednesday of every month online or at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Doors open at 7:15pm and the events come to a close usually by 9:00pm. Online events are free and museum events have a small entry fee for non-members to help us cover costs. Talks are on the following subjects: practical astronomy, current astro science, and space exploration.

The Moon

Waning Gibbous (Illumination: 85%)
Age: 18.50 days (Phase: 62.7%)
Size: 32.8' (Distance: 364,184km)
Moon rise: 22:09
Moon set: 08:31

New Moon	First Quarter	Full Moon	Last Quarter
Thu 11 Feb	Fri 19 Feb	Sat 27 Feb	Sat 6 Mar
Sat 13 Mar	Sun 21 Mar	Sun 28 Mar	Sun 4 Apr
Mon 12 Apr	Tue 20 Apr	Tue 27 Apr	Mon 3 May
Tue 11 May	Wed 19 May	Wed 26 May	Wed 2 Jun

The Sun

Sunset: 17:51
End twilight: 19:41
Begin twilight: 04:58
Sunrise: 06:49

Current Meteor Showers

Shower	Start	Peak	End	ZHR
Gamma Normids	25 Feb	15 Mar	28 Mar	6

	March 2021
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	2	3	4	5 Mercury 0.3° from Jupiter Mercury 0.3° from Jupiter March 5, 2021 The Sky See more details •	6 Last Quarter Moon Last Quarter Moon March 6, 2021 The Sky Lunation 1214 See more details Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation March 6, 2021 The Sky See more details • •	7
8	9	10	11 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun Neptune in Conjunction with Sun March 11, 2021 The Sky See more details •	12	13 New Moon New Moon March 13, 2021 The Sky Lunation 1215 See more details •	14
15	16	17	18	19 Mars 1.9°N from Moon Mars 1.9°N from Moon March 19, 2021 The Sky See more details •	20 Venus at Greatest Western Elongation Venus at Greatest Western Elongation March 20, 2021 The Sky See more details Vernal Equinox Vernal Equinox March 20, 2021 The Sky See more details • •	21 First Quarter Moon First Quarter Moon March 21, 2021 The Sky Lunation 1215 See more details •
22	23	24	25	26 Venus at Superior Conjunction Venus at Superior Conjunction March 26, 2021 The Sky See more details •	27	28 Full Moon Full Moon March 28, 2021 The Sky Lunation 1215 See more details •
29	30	31 BA monthly talk by Dr Julian Onions BA monthly talk by Dr Julian Onions March 31, 2021 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm Zoom Wednesday 31st March – Monthly meeting. Topic: Aperture Fever - does my mirror look big in this? After a very brief review of how telescopes work, we look at some of the existing telescopes, both visible and other wavebands, and consider why they are so big, what they can and can't see and what the telescopes planned for the next few years will deliver. Dr Julian Onions has always had an interest in astronomy, and after many years as an amateur went for a Phd in astrophysics at the University of Nottingham. There he studies computer models of galaxy formation using some of the biggest computers in the world, building model universes using mostly dark matter. He also helps out with undergraduate teaching and various outreach activities. Bath Astronomers monthly meeting for all members and new comers to meet up, enjoy perhaps a new topic and a cup of tea and a biscuit. Usually held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street. Due to COVID-19, this talk will be via Zoom. The format is open and comprises an update for the month and a talk on an astronomy topic within the reach of amateurs. See more details •

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The Planets

Planet	Rises	Sets	Constellation	Disk Size	Sun separation
Mercury	Wednesday 05:59:28	Wednesday 15:15:54	Cap	7.6" (58%)	27.0°
Venus	Wednesday 06:51:36	Wednesday 17:13:41	Aqr	9.8" (15%)	6.0°
Mars	Tuesday 09:13:51	Wednesday 01:12:54	Tau	6.3" (25%)	76.7°
Jupiter	Wednesday 06:06:45	Wednesday 15:19:13	Cap	32.4" (66%)	25.6°
Saturn	Wednesday 05:46:21	Wednesday 14:31:35	Cap	14.9" (74%)	33.9°
Uranus	Tuesday 08:36:34	Tuesday 23:00:41	Ari	3.4" (85%)	56.0°
Neptune	Tuesday 07:16:22	Tuesday 18:30:26	Aqr	2.2" (98%)	8.7°

Rise and Set times are with respect to Bath, UK. (%) indicates size compared to maximum possible. As Separation with the Sun approaches 0°, we have Conjunction. As it approaches 180°, we have Opposition. Planets will not be visible between Sunrise(06:47) and Sunset(17:53)

Messier objects due South now

Messier	Name	Type	Magnitude	Constellation
M45	Pleiades	Open Cluster	1.2	Taurus

Click on the Messier number for the finders guide for the deep sky object.

Spot the Space Station from Bath

Date	Mag	Start	Max	End
Wed 03 Mar	-0.8	03:55:34 look E alt 20°	20°	03:56:40 look E alt 11°
Wed 03 Mar	-3.0	05:28:34 look W alt 28°	85°	05:33:29 look E alt 11°
Thu 04 Mar	-2.9	04:42:44 look N alt 83°	83°	04:46:01 look E alt 11°
Fri 05 Mar	-1.1	03:57:10 look E alt 24°	24°	03:58:32 look E alt 11°
Fri 05 Mar	-3.0	05:30:10 look W alt 24°	77°	05:35:21 look ESE alt 11°
Sat 06 Mar	-2.9	04:44:20 look W alt 74°	89°	04:47:54 look E alt 11°
Sun 07 Mar	-1.4	03:58:46 look E alt 28°	28°	04:00:25 look E alt 11°
Sun 07 Mar	-2.4	05:31:42 look W alt 19°	48°	05:37:05 look SE alt 10°
Mon 08 Mar	-2.7	04:46:10 look SW alt 59°	62°	04:49:41 look ESE alt 11°
Tue 09 Mar	-1.1	04:00:53 look ESE alt 24°	24°	04:02:15 look ESE alt 11°
Tue 09 Mar	-1.5	05:33:41 look WSW alt 16°	25°	05:38:18 look SSE alt 10°
Wed 10 Mar	-1.8	04:48:23 look SSW alt 34°	34°	04:51:02 look SE alt 11°
Thu 11 Mar	-0.6	04:03:09 look SE alt 16°	16°	04:03:57 look SE alt 10°
Thu 11 Mar	-0.5	05:36:01 look WSW alt 12°	13°	05:38:18 look SSW alt 10°
Fri 12 Mar	-0.7	04:50:53 look S alt 15°	15°	04:51:51 look S alt 11°

Latest Starlink Satellites - 4th February

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set
Tue 02 Mar	STARLINK-1991	18:53:52 look W alt 10°	60°	18:59:01 look ENE alt 19°
Tue 02 Mar	STARLINK-1991	20:29:47 look WNW alt 10°	23°	20:31:04 look WNW alt 23°
Wed 03 Mar	STARLINK-1991	19:29:48 look WNW alt 10°	73°	19:33:41 look E alt 46°
Wed 03 Mar	STARLINK-1991	21:05:50 look W alt 11°	11°	21:05:50 look W alt 11°
Thu 04 Mar	STARLINK-1991	18:29:58 look WNW alt 10°	62°	18:36:10 look E alt 10°
Thu 04 Mar	STARLINK-1991	20:05:52 look WNW alt 10°	51°	20:08:26 look WSW alt 51°
Fri 05 Mar	STARLINK-1991	19:06:18 look WNW alt 10°	87°	19:11:13 look ESE alt 23°
Fri 05 Mar	STARLINK-1991	20:42:34 look W alt 11°	16°	20:43:18 look W alt 16°
Sat 06 Mar	STARLINK-1991	19:43:00 look W alt 11°	44°	19:46:34 look SSE alt 36°
Sun 07 Mar	STARLINK-1991	18:43:34 look WNW alt 10°	73°	18:49:47 look ESE alt 10°
Sun 07 Mar	STARLINK-1991	20:20:04 look W alt 10°	18°	20:21:56 look SW alt 18°
Mon 08 Mar	STARLINK-1991	19:20:39 look W alt 10°	31°	19:25:39 look SSE alt 14°
Tue 09 Mar	STARLINK-1991	19:58:59 look WSW alt 10°	12°	20:01:08 look SSW alt 10°
Wed 10 Mar	STARLINK-1991	18:59:20 look W alt 10°	21°	19:04:08 look SSE alt 10°

This is a satellite from the 18th batch of 60 of the Starlink constellation launched4th February 2021

Prior Starlink Satellites - L16 - 20th January

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set
Tue 02 Mar	STARLINK-2069	18:25:35 look ENE alt 24°	24°	18:26:57 look ENE alt 11°
Tue 02 Mar	STARLINK-2069	19:57:13 look W alt 11°	63°	20:00:30 look N alt 63°
Wed 03 Mar	STARLINK-2069	19:11:07 look W alt 11°	64°	19:16:21 look ENE alt 23°
Wed 03 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:48:06 look WNW alt 11°	24°	20:49:29 look WNW alt 24°
Thu 04 Mar	STARLINK-2069	18:28:53 look W alt 33°	69°	18:33:37 look ENE alt 11°
Thu 04 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:04:05 look WNW alt 11°	69°	20:07:09 look NW alt 69°
Fri 05 Mar	STARLINK-2069	19:21:52 look WNW alt 11°	68°	19:26:37 look E alt 33°
Fri 05 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:58:59 look WNW alt 10°	19°	21:00:05 look W alt 19°
Sat 06 Mar	STARLINK-2069	18:41:18 look W alt 11°	65°	18:47:47 look E alt 13°
Sat 06 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:18:35 look WNW alt 11°	52°	20:21:23 look WSW alt 52°
Sun 07 Mar	STARLINK-2069	19:39:44 look WNW alt 11°	76°	19:44:16 look ESE alt 41°
Sun 07 Mar	STARLINK-2069	21:17:28 look W alt 11°	12°	21:17:44 look W alt 12°
Mon 08 Mar	STARLINK-2069	19:02:18 look WNW alt 11°	88°	19:08:17 look ESE alt 18°
Mon 08 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:39:54 look W alt 10°	24°	20:42:02 look WSW alt 24°
Tue 09 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:03:50 look W alt 11°	32°	20:07:41 look S alt 28°
Wed 10 Mar	STARLINK-2069	19:28:35 look W alt 10°	38°	19:34:10 look SSE alt 18°
Thu 11 Mar	STARLINK-2069	18:54:28 look WNW alt 10°	45°	19:01:15 look SE alt 11°
Thu 11 Mar	STARLINK-2069	20:34:05 look WSW alt 10°	11°	20:35:26 look SW alt 10°

This is one of the satellites from the 17th batch of 60 of the Starlink constellation launched on 20th January 2021

Ingenuity: A Mini-Helicopter Now on Mars

What if you could fly around Mars? NASA may have achieved that capability last month with the landing of Perseverance, a rover which included a small flight-worthy companion called Ingenuity, nicknamed Ginny. Even though Ginny is small -- a toaster-sized helicopter with four long legs and two even-longer (1.2-meter) rotors, she is the first of her kind -- there has never been anything like her before. After being deployed, possibly in April, the car-sized Perseverance ("Percy") will back away to give Ginny ample room to attempt her unprecedented first flight. In the featured artistic illustration, Ginny's long rotors are depicted giving her the lift she needs to fly into the thin Martian atmosphere and explore the area near Perseverance. Although Ingenuity herself will not fly very far, she is a prototype for all future airborne Solar-System robots that may fly far across not only Mars, but Titan.

March 2021