Event Information – Bath Astronomers

Next monthly meeting

Wednesday 28th April
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What are we up to?

Apr28

Talk by Mary McIntyre "Constellations: From Mythology to Modern Day”.

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 talk is entitled "Constellations: From Mythology to Modern Day”. Humans have studied the night sky since the dawn of time. This talk covers some of the mythological stories behind the constellations, how they were named and some of the superstitions surrounding astronomical events. It then goes on to talk about how we view constellations in the modern day, including the science of stars and star clusters 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 "Moons of the Solar System"

26 MayHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 26th May – Monthly meeting. Topic: Moons of the Solar System 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. Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held 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. Picture: Peter Williamson

Jun30

Members' Night

30 JunZoom

A evening dedicated to members talking about their own activities and projects over 2021 and what they plan to take on in the following season. If you'd like to get involved and talk about what you're up to from 5 to 15mins then let us know.

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.

Jan26

BA Monthly talk by Dr Tim Gregory

26 JanHerschel Museum of Astronomy

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 Dr Tim Gregory and is on Meteorites. 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.

Apr27

BA Monthly talk by Chris Starr, Cassini and Saturn

27 AprHerschel 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

The Moon

Waxing Crescent (Illumination: 21%)
Age: 4.47 days (Phase: 15.1%)
Size: 29.7' (Distance: 402,183km)
Moon rise: 07:44

New Moon	First Quarter	Full Moon	Last Quarter
Mon 12 Apr	Tue 20 Apr	Tue 27 Apr	Mon 3 May
Tue 11 May	Wed 19 May	Wed 26 May	Wed 2 Jun
Thu 10 Jun	Fri 18 Jun	Thu 24 Jun	Thu 1 Jul
Sat 10 Jul	Sat 17 Jul	Sat 24 Jul	Sat 31 Jul

The Sun

Sunset: 19:08
End twilight: 21:19
Begin twilight: 02:55
Sunrise: 05:06

Current Meteor Showers

Shower	Start	Peak	End	ZHR
Lyrids	14 Apr	23 Apr	30 Apr	18
Pi Puppids	15 Apr	24 Apr	28 Apr	variable

Talk by Pete Williamson FRAS "Moons of the Solar System"

Wednesday 26th May – Monthly meeting.

Topic:
Moons of the Solar System

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. Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held 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.

Picture: Peter Williamson

Date: Wednesday, 26 May 2021
Commences at 7:30PM and due to end by 9:00PM
Anticipated duration of the event is 1.5 hours

Venue:
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
19 New King Street
Bath
BA1 2BL
United Kingdom

Click here to view this event in Facebook.

The Planets

Planet	Rises	Sets	Constellation	Disk Size	Sun separation
Mercury	Saturday 06:14:31	Saturday 19:55:10	Psc	5.0" (39%)	2.5°
Venus	Saturday 06:29:08	Saturday 20:36:07	Ari	9.7" (15%)	5.6°
Mars	Saturday 08:45:41	Sunday 01:34:10	Tau	4.9" (19%)	58.5°
Jupiter	Saturday 04:29:33	Saturday 14:13:37	Cap	35.2" (71%)	61.0°
Saturn	Saturday 03:59:02	Saturday 12:55:29	Cap	15.8" (79%)	74.8°
Uranus	Saturday 06:40:21	Saturday 21:12:45	Ari	3.4" (83%)	12.7°
Neptune	Saturday 05:18:25	Saturday 16:38:58	Aqr	2.2" (99%)	35.3°

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(06:07) and Sunset(20:09)

Messier objects due South now

Messier	Name	Type	Magnitude	Constellation
M4	NGC6121	Globular Cluster	5.9	Scorpius
M5	NGC5904	Globular Cluster	5.8	Serpens
M10	NGC6254	Globular Cluster	6.6	Ophiuchus
M12	NGC6218	Globular Cluster	6.6	Ophiuchus
M13	Hercules Cluster	Globular Cluster	5.9	Hercules
M19	NGC6273	Globular Cluster	7.2	Ophiuchus
M62	NGC6266	Globular Cluster	6.6	Ophiuchus
M80	NGC6093	Globular Cluster	7.2	Scorpius
M92	NGC6341	Globular Cluster	6.5	Hercules
M107	NGC6171	Globular Cluster	8.1	Ophiuchus

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

Latest Starlink Satellites - 4th February

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set
Sat 17 Apr	STARLINK-1991	04:14:21 look WSW alt 49°	59°	04:17:57 look SE alt 10°
Sun 18 Apr	STARLINK-1991	03:17:13 look ESE alt 17°	17°	03:18:00 look ESE alt 10°
Sun 18 Apr	STARLINK-1991	04:49:28 look WSW alt 21°	24°	04:52:52 look SSE alt 11°
Mon 19 Apr	STARLINK-1991	03:52:55 look SE alt 15°	15°	03:53:26 look SE alt 11°
Tue 20 Apr	STARLINK-1991	21:02:47 look SSE alt 10°	11°	21:04:29 look ESE alt 11°
Tue 20 Apr	STARLINK-1991	22:36:17 look SW alt 12°	16°	22:36:48 look SW alt 16°
Wed 21 Apr	STARLINK-1991	21:36:38 look SSW alt 10°	30°	21:40:50 look E alt 19°
Wed 21 Apr	STARLINK-1991	23:11:53 look WSW alt 10°	23°	23:13:11 look W alt 23°
Thu 22 Apr	STARLINK-1991	22:12:04 look WSW alt 10°	71°	22:16:27 look E alt 31°
Thu 22 Apr	STARLINK-1991	23:47:58 look W alt 10°	16°	23:48:44 look W alt 16°
Fri 23 Apr	STARLINK-1991	21:12:40 look SW alt 11°	42°	21:18:14 look E alt 11°
Fri 23 Apr	STARLINK-1991	22:48:06 look W alt 10°	68°	22:51:43 look NE alt 54°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-1991	21:48:18 look WSW alt 10°	89°	21:54:30 look ENE alt 10°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-1991	23:24:16 look W alt 10°	43°	23:26:35 look NW alt 43°
Sun 25 Apr	STARLINK-1991	22:24:28 look W alt 10°	62°	22:29:22 look ENE alt 22°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-1991	00:00:26 look WNW alt 10°	19°	00:01:28 look WNW alt 19°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-1991	21:24:43 look W alt 10°	75°	21:30:55 look ENE alt 10°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-1991	23:00:42 look WNW alt 10°	66°	23:04:04 look NE alt 62°

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
Sat 17 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:42:27 look WNW alt 12°	71°	04:50:05 look E alt 12°
Sun 18 Apr	STARLINK-2069	01:24:36 look ENE alt 11°	11°	01:24:36 look ENE alt 11°
Sun 18 Apr	STARLINK-2069	03:00:17 look N alt 76°	76°	03:04:25 look ENE alt 10°
Sun 18 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:35:51 look WNW alt 10°	76°	04:44:08 look E alt 10°
Mon 19 Apr	STARLINK-2069	01:18:16 look ENE alt 12°	12°	01:18:16 look ENE alt 12°
Mon 19 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:53:40 look NW alt 68°	72°	02:57:49 look ENE alt 12°
Mon 19 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:29:33 look WNW alt 10°	81°	04:37:50 look ESE alt 10°
Tue 20 Apr	STARLINK-2069	01:11:55 look ENE alt 12°	12°	01:11:55 look ENE alt 12°
Tue 20 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:47:22 look NW alt 65°	69°	02:51:30 look E alt 12°
Tue 20 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:23:14 look WNW alt 10°	89°	04:31:31 look ESE alt 10°
Wed 21 Apr	STARLINK-2069	01:05:15 look ENE alt 14°	14°	01:05:34 look ENE alt 12°
Wed 21 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:41:03 look NNW alt 64°	68°	02:45:11 look E alt 12°
Wed 21 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:16:53 look WNW alt 10°	82°	04:25:09 look ESE alt 10°
Thu 22 Apr	STARLINK-2069	00:58:53 look ENE alt 14°	14°	00:59:31 look ENE alt 10°
Thu 22 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:34:24 look NW alt 57°	68°	02:38:51 look E alt 12°
Thu 22 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:10:50 look WNW alt 12°	72°	04:18:46 look ESE alt 10°
Fri 23 Apr	STARLINK-2069	00:52:30 look ENE alt 14°	14°	00:53:08 look ENE alt 10°
Fri 23 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:28:03 look NW alt 58°	70°	02:32:30 look E alt 12°
Fri 23 Apr	STARLINK-2069	04:04:26 look WNW alt 12°	62°	04:12:01 look SE alt 12°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-2069	00:46:07 look ENE alt 14°	14°	00:46:45 look ENE alt 10°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:21:41 look NW alt 59°	73°	02:26:08 look E alt 12°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-2069	03:58:01 look WNW alt 11°	52°	04:05:33 look SE alt 12°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-2069	21:16:11 look SSE alt 10°	13°	21:19:49 look ESE alt 10°
Sat 24 Apr	STARLINK-2069	22:53:01 look SW alt 11°	41°	22:55:50 look SSW alt 41°
Sun 25 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:15:55 look N alt 78°	78°	02:20:04 look E alt 10°
Sun 25 Apr	STARLINK-2069	03:51:35 look WNW alt 11°	43°	03:59:02 look SE alt 11°
Sun 25 Apr	STARLINK-2069	21:08:56 look S alt 11°	16°	21:13:52 look E alt 11°
Sun 25 Apr	STARLINK-2069	22:46:30 look SW alt 12°	60°	22:53:26 look ENE alt 16°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-2069	00:26:00 look W alt 12°	58°	00:29:10 look WNW alt 58°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-2069	02:11:25 look ESE alt 31°	31°	02:13:38 look ESE alt 10°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-2069	03:47:16 look WSW alt 26°	36°	03:52:28 look SSE alt 11°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-2069	21:01:57 look S alt 11°	20°	21:07:40 look E alt 11°
Mon 26 Apr	STARLINK-2069	22:40:00 look WSW alt 12°	70°	22:47:37 look ENE alt 12°
Tue 27 Apr	STARLINK-2069	00:19:34 look W alt 12°	68°	00:24:21 look ENE alt 49°
Tue 27 Apr	STARLINK-2069	01:58:55 look WNW alt 10°	17°	01:59:52 look WNW alt 17°
Tue 27 Apr	STARLINK-2069	03:44:57 look SSE alt 15°	15°	03:45:51 look SSE alt 10°

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

The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes

Light rays from accretion disks around a pair of orbiting supermassive black holes make their way through the warped space-time produced by extreme gravity in this stunning computer visualization. The simulated accretion disks have been given different false color schemes, red for the disk surrounding a 200-million-solar-mass black hole, and blue for the disk surrounding a 100-million-solar-mass black hole. That makes it easier to track the light sources, but the choice also reflects reality. Hotter gas gives off light closer to the blue end of the spectrum and material orbiting smaller black holes experiences stronger gravitational effects that produce higher temperatures. For these masses, both accretion disks would actually emit most of their light in the ultraviolet though. In the video, distorted secondary images of the blue black hole, which show the red black hole's view of its partner, can be found within the tangled skein of the red disk warped by the gravity of the blue black hole in the foreground. Because we're seeing red's view of blue while also seeing blue directly, the images allow us to see both sides of blue at the same time. Red and blue light originating from both black holes can be seen in the innermost ring of light, called the photon ring, near their event horizons. Astronomers expect that in the not-too-distant future they’ll be able to detect gravitational waves, ripples in space-time, produced when two supermassive black holes in a system much like the one simulated here spiral together and merge.