Our Meetings – Bath Astronomers

What are we up to?

Jul15

Getting to Grips with the Night Sky: Introduction to astronomy

15 JulZoom web meeting

A talk on the night sky, how to get more involved in stargazing and ideas for enjoying astronomy. All are welcome from beginners upwards. It is intended to show you the simple science of the night skies above your head and how that knowledge can help you observe. You'll need to download the Zoom app onto your computer to get involved. Do this well beforehand and check you're happy your speakers and microphone work ok. You can join the meeting with the following link: https://zoom.us/j/3212071969?pwd=N2NXNVpIRWRnWlBka2w0WjluUlFNQT09 Please consider a donation to the Society or joining to help us cover the costs of running these events. Credit: NASA, Juno

Sep16

Getting to Grips with the Night Sky: Introduction to astronomy

16 SepZoom web meeting

A talk on the night sky, how to get more involved in stargazing and ideas for enjoying astronomy. All are welcome from beginners upwards. It is intended to show you the simple science of the night skies above your head and how that knowledge can help you observe. You'll need to download the Zoom app onto your computer to get involved. Do this well beforehand and check you're happy your speakers and microphone work ok. We'll make the link available for the session in early September Please consider a donation to the Society or joining to help us cover the costs of running these events. Credit: NASA, Juno

Sep30

Talk by Mark Radice, Observing the Planets

30 SepHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 30th September – Monthly meeting. A talk by Mark Radice on observing the planets. 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Mark Radice

Oct28

Talk by Stephen Tonkin, Two Eyes are Better than One

28 OctHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 28th October – Monthly meeting. A talk by Stephen Tonkin on binocular astronomy. Two Eyes are Better than One. Steve Tonkin has been an amateur astronomer since childhood and now spends most of his time doing astronomical outreach; he leads public observing sessions at BBC Stargazing Live events. He has taught astronomy to adults and children for over 35 years and has authored many articles and several books on practical aspects of astronomy. He writes equipment reviews and a monthly Binocular Tour for BBC Sky at Night magazine. Steve is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a past-chairman of the Wessex Astronomical Society and a founder member of Fordingbridge Astronomers. 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Stephen Tonkin

Nov18

Getting to Grips with the Night Sky: Introduction to astronomy

18 NovHerschel Museum of Astronomy

A talk on the night sky, how to get more involved in stargazing and ideas for enjoying astronomy. All are welcome from beginners upwards. It is intended to show you the simple science of the night skies above your head and how that knowledge can help you observe. The location for the talk if the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street, Bath. BA1 2BL. There is a charge of £5 per head for adults. Accompanied young people can attend for free. For those that decide to join Bath Astronomers by end of November, the £5 will be deducted from the membership subscription payment due. Credit: NASA, Juno

Nov23

Moon/Planet viewing with Bath Astronomers

23 NovHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Monday 23 November, 6pm to 9pm Evening observing session from the house and garden of 18th century brother and sister astronomers William and Caroline Herschel. The Planet Uranus was discovered from the garden in 1781, by William. Generously supported by volunteers from Bath Astronomers.

Nov25

A Life on Mars. Talk by Bud Martin

25 NovHerschel Museum of Astronomy

A Life On Mars by Bud Martin We take a look at the personalities, speculations and theories that have contributed to our changing views of the Red Planet over the last 150 years. From the sublime to the ridiculous, we examine what it takes to visit our near neighbour. About Bud Bud first became interested in astronomy at 8 years old after seeing a bright meteor flash across the night sky. Determined to learn more, he avidly read all the astronomy books in the local Public Library then set about making his first telescope from spectacle lenses and cardboard tubes. At the same time, he developed a love for music and by the age of 13 had made his own electric guitar. Nearly 60 years later, Bud is still performing at gigs on his equally old Gibson 345. Astigmatism in his right (dominant) eye began to make observation at the telescope eyepiece a troublesome experience so Bud developed a system using a modified web-cam to view the heavens. Naturally, this paved the way to enable him to capture the images he was seeing on the computer screen. Constantly improving camera sensor technology meant that before long he was seeing objects – especially on the Lunar surface – in such detail impossible with his naked eye. Bud is an internationally published Lunar Astrophotographer. The event: 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. Bath Astronomers' members and under 18s enter for free. All visitors welcome and there is an entry charge of £5. Reduced to £2 for Herschel Society members and students. Picture: Bud Martin

Dec17

Evening Astronomy

17 DecHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Thursday 17 December, 8pm to 11pm Evening observing session from the house and garden of 18th century brother and sister astronomers William and Caroline Herschel. The planet Uranus was discovered from the garden here, by William, in 1781. Generously supported by volunteers from Bath Astronomers

Jan27

Talk by Nick Howes, Oh My God, We're all gonna die

27 JanHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 27th January – Monthly meeting. Nick Howes has sixteen years' experience working at the cutting edge of Research and Development. Formerly Deputy Director of Kielder Observatory, Sci-Comms for ESA, software development for the SKA Telescope, and Pro-Am Programme Manager for the Faulkes Telescopes, helping to discover dozens of new asteroids. Nick is both a fellow of the BIS and of the Royal Astronomical Society, and works now as the Lead Specialist for BMT's Space R&D team. BMT Defence and Security were the architectural design team behind the QEC Aircraft Carrier, and have offices all over the world, including Bath. His Talk "Oh My God...We're all gonna die" takes us through the perceived threats in space, and hones in on the ones that could truly change the face of our planet forever. 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 William Herschel Society members. Bath Astronomers members get free entry. Picture: Nick Howes

Mar31

Talk by Pete Williamson FRAS

31 MarHerschel Museum of Astronomy

Wednesday 31st March – Monthly meeting. Topic to be confirmed: Observing the Moon, or 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 William 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

The Moon

Waning Crescent (Illumination: 29.2%)
Age: 24.16 days (Phase: 81.8%)
Size: 29.7' (Distance: 402,539km)
Moon rise: 00:26
Moon set: 15:19

New Moon	First Quarter	Full Moon	Last Quarter
Sun 21 Jun	Sun 28 Jun	Sun 5 Jul	Sun 12 Jul
Mon 20 Jul	Mon 27 Jul	Mon 3 Aug	Tue 11 Aug
Wed 19 Aug	Tue 25 Aug	Wed 2 Sep	Thu 10 Sep
Thu 17 Sep	Thu 24 Sep	Thu 1 Oct	Sat 10 Oct

The Sun

Sunset: 20:19
End twilight:
Begin twilight:
Sunrise: 04:12

Current Meteor Showers

Shower	Start	Peak	End	ZHR
Piscis Austrinids	15 Jul	28 Jul	10 Aug	5
Southern Delta Aquariids	12 Jul	30 Jul	23 Aug	25
Alpha Capricornids	3 Jul	30 Jul	15 Aug	5

We hold regular monthly Beginners meetings for informal talks about astronomy (and occasionally other things!) on the last Wednesday of the month. We usually stroll up to the New Inn to finish the evening’s discussion.

We also enjoy the monthly William Herschel Society Lectures which are focused towards the science of astronomy and the history of those involved.

All with an interest in astronomy are welcome from beginners to old hands.

Date	Time	Meeting/Activity	Location	Audience
30th September	19:30	Talk by Mark Radice on Observing the Planets	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
28th October	19:30	Talk by Stephen Tonkin on Two eyes are better than one	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
25th November	19:00 19:30	Bath Astro AGM. Talk by Bud Martin on A life on Mars	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
27th January 2021	19:30	Talk by Nick Howes on Oh my God, we’re goin’ to die	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
24th February	19:30	Talk by Nora Eisner	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
31st March	19:30	Talk by Peter Williamson on From Herschel to Hawkwind	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
28th April	19:30	Talk by Mary McIntyre	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
26th May	19:30	Member’s Night	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious
30th June	19:30	Talk by Chris Starr, Cassini’s discoveries	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, New King Street	Members and the curious

We usually meet in the gallery of the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street, Bath, BA1 2BL. Simply come along 15 minutes before the gathering and you should find the door unlocked/open. Go around the front door and down the basement steps immediately behind and on the left. Walk down the steps and head in the same direction into the kitchen and then the workshop. The gallery is on your left at the rear of the building.

Past Events

Date	Speaker/Event	Location
24th June 2020	Roger Hyman on Photos to Wow!! images	Online talk using Zoom YouTube.com
27th May 2020	Dr Ezzy Pearson on A Brief History of Rovers and Landers	Online talk using Zoom YouTube.com
29th April 2020	Bob Mizon on 8 Great Astronomers	Online talk using Zoom
26th February 2020	Owen Brazell on Observing Planetary Nebulae	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
29th January 2020	Member’s Night – a series of short talks	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
27th November 2019	Roger Pickard on Variable Stars	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
30th October 2019	Mark Woodland on Exoplanets for Amateur Astronomers	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
25th September 2019	James Fradgley on 4 Short Talks	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
26th June 2019	Pete Richardson on DIY Optics for Astronomy	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
24th April 2019	Simon Holbeche, If it ain’t broke, fit it	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
28th February 2019	Abi Chown on Measuring the Universe	Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK
29th November 2018	Hugh Allen on Spectroscopy	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK
25th October 2018	Simon Holbeche on Comets	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK
27th September 2018	Charles Draper on Autumn & Winter Skies	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK
28th June 2018	Simon Holbeche on Solar Observing	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK
26th April 2018	Pete Richardson on Telescope Astrophotography	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK
29th March 2018	Andy Burns on Wide Field Astrophotography	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK
22nd February 2018	Simon Holbeche on the Moon	Percy Centre, New King Street, Bath, UK

The Planets

Planet	Rises	Sets	Constellation	Disk Size	Sun separation
Mercury	Wednesday 03:13:30	Wednesday 18:46:12	Gem	9.5" (73%)	17.6°
Venus	Wednesday 01:42:48	Wednesday 16:55:35	Tau	34.5" (55%)	41.5°
Mars	Tuesday 23:12:11	Wednesday 11:22:40	Cet	12.7" (50%)	103.2°
Jupiter	Wednesday 20:07:20	Thursday 04:08:47	Sgr	46.6" (94%)	178.2°
Saturn	Wednesday 20:27:13	Thursday 04:46:39	Sgr	17.8" (89%)	174.9°
Uranus	Tuesday 23:50:37	Wednesday 14:23:46	Ari	3.5" (86%)	72.7°
Neptune	Tuesday 22:25:40	Wednesday 09:41:30	Aqr	2.3" (103%)	122.1°

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(04:10) and Sunset(20:21)

Messier objects due South now

Messier	Name	Type	Magnitude	Constellation
M31	Andromeda Galaxy	Spiral Galaxy	3.4	Andromeda
M32	NGC221	Elliptical Galaxy	8.2	Andromeda
M33	Pinwheel Galaxy	Spiral Galaxy	5.7	Triangulum
M74	NGC628	S	9.2	Pisces
M76	Cork Nebula, Little Dunbbell	Planetary Nebula	11.5	Perseus
M103	NGC581	Open Cluster	7.4	Cassiopeia
M110	NGC205	Elliptical Galaxy	8	Andromeda

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 15 Jul	-2.3	23:13:46 look SW alt 10°	46°	23:20:13 look E alt 10°
Thu 16 Jul	-2.9	00:50:24 look W alt 11°	85°	00:56:57 look E alt 11°
Thu 16 Jul	-2.9	02:27:12 look W alt 11°	72°	02:33:44 look ESE alt 11°
Thu 16 Jul	-1.3	04:04:22 look W alt 11°	23°	04:09:26 look SSE alt 11°
Thu 16 Jul	-1.9	22:26:16 look SW alt 11°	34°	22:32:04 look E alt 11°
Fri 17 Jul	-3.0	00:02:28 look W alt 11°	87°	00:09:02 look E alt 11°
Fri 17 Jul	-2.9	01:39:17 look W alt 11°	85°	01:45:50 look ESE alt 11°
Fri 17 Jul	-1.8	03:16:14 look W alt 11°	32°	03:22:00 look SSE alt 11°
Fri 17 Jul	-2.9	23:14:34 look WSW alt 11°	75°	23:21:07 look E alt 11°
Sat 18 Jul	-2.9	00:51:22 look W alt 11°	86°	00:57:55 look E alt 11°
Sat 18 Jul	-2.2	02:28:22 look W alt 12°	43°	02:34:15 look SE alt 12°
Sat 18 Jul	-2.8	22:26:42 look WSW alt 10°	60°	22:33:13 look E alt 10°
Sun 19 Jul	-2.9	00:03:26 look W alt 11°	83°	00:10:00 look E alt 11°
Sun 19 Jul	-2.6	01:40:12 look W alt 10°	58°	01:43:44 look S alt 56°
Sun 19 Jul	-3.0	23:15:31 look W alt 11°	86°	23:22:04 look E alt 11°
Mon 20 Jul	-2.8	00:52:19 look W alt 11°	73°	00:56:24 look SE alt 47°
Mon 20 Jul	-3.0	22:27:36 look WSW alt 11°	87°	22:34:09 look E alt 11°
Tue 21 Jul	-2.9	00:04:25 look W alt 11°	86°	00:09:36 look ESE alt 24°
Tue 21 Jul	-0.9	01:41:22 look W alt 11°	19°	01:42:25 look W alt 19°
Tue 21 Jul	-3.0	23:16:30 look W alt 11°	86°	23:22:47 look E alt 13°
Wed 22 Jul	-1.9	00:53:14 look W alt 10°	36°	00:55:39 look WSW alt 36°
Wed 22 Jul	-3.0	22:28:35 look W alt 11°	83°	22:35:09 look E alt 11°
Thu 23 Jul	-2.6	00:05:22 look W alt 10°	59°	00:09:09 look SSE alt 50°
Thu 23 Jul	-2.9	23:17:29 look W alt 11°	74°	23:22:39 look ESE alt 24°
Fri 24 Jul	-0.7	00:54:39 look W alt 11°	16°	00:55:25 look WSW alt 16°
Fri 24 Jul	-3.0	22:29:35 look W alt 11°	87°	22:36:08 look ESE alt 11°
Sat 25 Jul	-1.7	00:06:33 look W alt 11°	31°	00:08:55 look SW alt 31°

Latest Starlink Satellites - 13th June

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set
Wed 15 Jul	STARLINK-1477	23:15:22 look W alt 11°	32°	23:19:07 look S alt 26°
Thu 16 Jul	STARLINK-1477	22:15:17 look WNW alt 12°	57°	22:20:56 look SE alt 12°
Thu 16 Jul	STARLINK-1477	23:52:05 look WSW alt 11°	13°	23:53:10 look SW alt 13°
Fri 17 Jul	STARLINK-1477	22:51:06 look W alt 11°	23°	22:54:58 look S alt 17°
Sun 19 Jul	STARLINK-1477	22:26:42 look W alt 10°	17°	22:30:50 look S alt 10°
Tue 21 Jul	STARLINK-1477	22:02:48 look WSW alt 10°	11°	22:04:56 look SSW alt 10°

This is a satellite from the 9th batch of 58 of the Starlink constellation launched on 13th June 2020

Prior Starlink Satellites - L7 - 4th June

Date	Satellite	Rise	Max	Set
Sat 18 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	04:25:48 look SE alt 10°	10°	04:26:12 look SE alt 10°
Mon 20 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	03:59:18 look S alt 10°	15°	04:02:53 look ESE alt 10°
Tue 21 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	04:33:27 look SW alt 11°	34°	04:35:42 look S alt 34°
Wed 22 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	03:34:51 look S alt 17°	21°	03:38:25 look E alt 10°
Thu 23 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	02:36:34 look ESE alt 11°	11°	02:36:47 look ESE alt 10°
Thu 23 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	04:08:36 look SW alt 14°	51°	04:13:57 look ENE alt 12°
Fri 24 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	03:10:20 look SSE alt 27°	29°	03:13:33 look E alt 10°
Sat 25 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	02:11:57 look ESE alt 13°	13°	02:12:24 look ESE alt 11°
Sat 25 Jul	STARLINK-1436 (VISORSAT)	03:43:53 look WSW alt 19°	69°	03:49:01 look ENE alt 10°

This is one of the satellites from the 8th batch of 60 of the Starlink constellation launched on 4th June 2020

Comet NEOWISE over the Swiss Alps

Philipp Salzgeberfoto-webcam.euAdam Block

Comet NEOWISE has been wowing photographers around much of the world during dawn and dusk, at the margins of day and night. For the most northern residents of planet Earth, however, the comet circles the North Star and never sets. The night part of this circular arc is apparent in the featured composite of images assembled from a webcam located at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Images were selected at 30-minute intervals throughout the night from July 12th -13th. Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) will continue to become more accessible to northern hemisphere observers as its motion places it higher in the sky each evening after sunset over the next few weeks, as it begins its outbound journey. As with all comets, departure from the inner Solar System comes with inevitable fading. Binoculars are the best way to find and observe the comet visually. Notable Images of Comet NEOWISE Submitted to APOD: || July 14 || July 13 || July 12 || July 11 || July 10 & earlier ||