Updates...

Hi All,

Couple of quick updates for you.

1) Don't forget to book your place at the introduction to astronomy day on 7th March. Comment on this  post for further details and booking form.

2) The next observing evening at the Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is on Saturdy 22nd February. Book via their site (use the link on the post below).

3) I've changed the date of the April meeting after being reminded that the original date was Easter Saturday and it's possible that people will be out and about visiting. The new date is Saturday 18th April, original times and topics.

Public Observing At Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome

We now have 3 dates where you can come along and observe the night sky. We have partnered with Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome to host 3 observing evenings.

https://www.stowmaries.org.uk/event-bookings/event/stargazers/

Follow the link above for further details and to book your place.

Public Observing Nights

Right oh all. At our last monthly meeting I mentioned that we might have a secure dark sky site to arrange public observing. Today I met with the CEO (how posh is that!) of the site and discussed the possible arrangements.

So I'm after volunteers to help with observing nights. There will be 3 events (thus far as a trial), one each in January, February and March next year. The site (which I'll share when all is confirmed as it can't go ahead without your help!) is about a 20 minute drive from Burnham. We will need people to control club scopes and possibly bring their own and to act as sky guides to visitors. The site has facilities (volunteers will have free teas and soup etc on the night). It is envisaged that public will arrive from 6:30, observing then from 7-8:30. No dates yet but they will be non club Saturday nights.

I'm quite keen for the club to support this as the site will do all the arranging, we just have to turn up with our equipment. We will beable to promote astronomy to the wider world and may lead to further astronomical oportunities. If nothing else it will be a good excuse to get out and observe for us all.

Please let us know if you can help, the more the merrier

Quay Day 2019

Monday 26th August was the annual Quay day in the east Essex town of Burnham on Crouch, an event that supports the week long yachting regatta that the town hosts. This year the East Essex Astronomy Club had a stand allowing the public to safely view the sun. 7 club members volunteered to help people view the sun through various telescopes. Available for use were 2 Coranado PSTs (both mounted on star adventurers), an 80mm refractor with Herschel wedge and an 8” Celestron Evolution with a Celestron solar filter.

The day was perfect for solar gazing without a cloud in the sky the temperature topped 30°C. Although the sun is (very) quite at the moment the public were able to view the sun to see limb darkening through all scopes and granulation through the club’s PST. The club was able to purchase the PST with help from the East of England Coop green token community charity scheme. Throughout the day around 150 visitors were able to view the sun for the first time through a telescope. The evolution was also trained on a waning moon visible in the daytime, with low contrast however, where Mare Crisium was just visible on the eastern limb.

Many thanks to the volunteers who made the day a success, perhaps we should have a go next year!

2020 Event Dates

Head over to the Event Dates page to view the schedule for 2020 (the rest of 2019 is still visible below).

We have a range of old and new speakers for 2020 and will again be running our Introduction To Astronomy day.

We will also be running for the first time an astrophotography workshop on Saturday 3rd October. This will be aimed at beginner and intermediate level imagers who want to know where to begin and how to improve shooting the stars and planets.

If you would like to attend either the introduction day or astrophotography workshop please email the club at eeac@essexastro.com for more information and booking forms.

Quay Day Confirmed - 26th August 2019

Hi All,

It has been confirmed that we have a place at the Quay Day in Burnham on 26th August 2020.

We will have at least 3 dedicated solar observing telescopes (one of which is a hydrogen alpha scope) for people to look through and safely observe the sun (assuming we have a nice sunny day!) free of charge.

There will be some of the club on hand to answer any astronomical questions you may have and you will also be able to sign up for the 2020 Introduction to Astronomy day on Saturday 7th March 2020.

Hope to see you all down there and any club members can come along and lend a hand if they want.

Quay Day 2019, Monday 26th August.

Hi All,

I now have details from the organising people about the Quay day in Burnham.

The main aim of the club is to promote astronomy in the area. Astronomy is open and accessible to all. We would like to have a stand at the Quay Day in Burnham which is attended by hundereds if not thousands of visitors at the end of Burnham Week.

We want to have a stand on the field to promote the club and to have solar and perhaps lunar viewing for Joe public to enjoy. The quay day people want £40 for the event, which is fair enough but before committing to paying this we want to ensure that the event is supported by the club in the way of help on the day (these things don't just happen!).

The event runs from 12 - 5pm but the stands have to be in place by 10am so I'm suggesting that help would be most welcome from about 9am to set up and upto about 6pm to take down. I'll caveat that by saying once we are set up there isn't much point in hanging around until 12 when the event starts (but if you want to hang around and chat astro obviously more than welcome.

We'll have scopes for viewing the sun in white light and our hydrogen alpha scope and possibly the moon (it will be above the horizon and away from the sun, so in theory visible. As a sweetener the club will furnish volunteers with a club shirt (just so you look the part). Afterwards we could possible visit one of the local observatories for viewing Saturn and Jupiter (hope to have mine up and running by then!).

Below I've put a suggested time table/slots for volunteers. I'm going to be around pretty much all day. Please let us know which slot(s) you'd like or even if you're around all day.

Time:                                  Task

9am - 10:30                        Set up
10:30 - 12                           Generally hanging around, playing with the toys, making sure things don't get nicked!
12 - 2pm                             Solar observing and promotion
2 - 4pm                               Solar observing and promotion
4  -6pm                               Solar observing, promotion, packing up

The only other thing that I'd ask any volunteers to commit to is a kind of training session so we are all familiar with solar observing safety, how to operate the equipment, things we'd like to include in promotion talks/material or any other ideas you may have.This could be one evening or during a weekend, only be about an hour or so.

When I've got at least 3 (preferably more) per slot (there's going to be at least 3 scopes to look after) and gazebos are easier to erect with many hands) I'll confirm with you and book the stand.

Hopefully we'll get lots who would like to help. Looking forward to hearing from you so we can make the event a success.

Regards

John
Chair EEAC