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Hampshire Astronomical Group by Pat Humby

Pat Humby is a keen birdwatcher and star-gazer. We are lucky to have this little-known observatory, at Clanfield, in our neighbourhood. If you visit during one of their open evenings, on a clear night you will see fabulous things. The Milky Way, which is actually looking towards the centre of our own galaxy, thousands of stars and those that do not twinkle are our planets.

There is nothing easier or cheaper, than simply looking at the night sky. Even Gordon Brown cannot tax you. When Mars is close by earth, it is easy to see with the naked eye, that it is red. You can slowly build up your repertoire of the constellations. Patrick Moore suggests you progress to using binoculars, you have a larger field of view than a telescope, and you’ll clearly see the mountains on the moon, plus far more stars will come into vision.

Some of these ‘stars’ are actually galaxies, which can be seen clearly at Clanfield, as can the colours of Neptune, the rings of Saturn and a myriad of wonders.

Buy any appropriate magazine and you’ll notice that astronomical telescopes are surprisingly cheap, and will last for several light years. For far more information - - -

www.delscope.demon.co.uk/information/telescopesandbins.htm

Also:

www.cloudynights.com

www.weasner.com/etx/index.html

www.nexstarsite.com

Astronoomy: By Robert Burnham, Alan Dyer, Jeff Kanipe Pub:Fog City Press

Any book by Sir Patrick Moore, visit your library, buy a sky map.

On a whim, I tried digiscoping the moon through my spotting telescope. It was dusk, the moon was bright, the results unspectacular but okay. Try it with any camera, no special settings are required.

Do go along to one of their open evenings, Phone first, check directions carefully, you will be met on the gate, chose a clear night, and in view of health and safety, please beware of being amazed. If you are not, you deserve a good slapping.

HAMPSHIRE ASTRONOMICAL GROUP PAT HUMBY

This amateur group has its own observatory near Clanfield, Hampshire, with four domes – housing a 5” refracting telescope, and three reflecting telescopes of 24”, 16” and 12” diameters. There is also a pair of ‘giant’ 25 x 150 binoculars available. The group was formed in Portsmouth in 1960, by Mr Ray Bootland and a few other interested members – some of whom are still with us. Its present site was chosen after two moves, as light pollution from Portsmouth and neighbouring Fareham extended its influence. Three of the domes and telescopes were designed and constructed by members over the years, and have, since 1972 when the Clanfield site became available, been subject to many improvements. Sir Patrick Moore performed the opening ceremony on Saturday 4th. November 1978, when the original 20” mirror was fully installed in its dome after six years hard work.

We are a friendly, welcoming group with a current membership of around 150, of which about 40 are active observers. Public lectures are held in Clanfield village hall on the first Friday of most months, when visiting speakers cover a variety of astronomical subjects. Club evenings are on Fridays, and member’s talks take place at the observatory on the third Friday of each month.

Other activities include an Evening Class on Monday, conducted by our past President and astronomy lecturer Mr Robin Gorman, a member’s Observing and Training section on Wednesday and public and private group visits, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Daytime visits, especially for the benefit of school children, can be arranged, when visitors can see the Sun directly and safely through a specially fitted Hydrogen – Alpha filter on the 5” telescope. A small fee is charged for visits.

Full membership is available. Families may join with a 25% discount and Associate membership is also offered – with members allowed free entry to the monthly lectures and free full-colour Newsletters, which are produced twice each year.

The BBC and local radio take an interest in our activities, particularly when an important celestial phenomenon occurs, for example, a solar or lunar eclipse, transit of a planet across the face of the Sun, or the appearance of a comet. We have even witnessed the ‘Northern Lights’ from our site, when the Sun has been particularly active. The observatory also has links with the University of Portsmouth, with the opportunity for their students to visit regularly and to undertake studies using the Group’s equipment.

Our active observers track asteroids, confirm supernovae discoveries, take images using various cameras – SLR, CCD and Web-Cams - and observe the Moon, Sun, planets, constellations, galaxies, and star clusters available in the night sky. Many members have their own telescopes, and if they are portable, bring them to the observatory for ‘star parties’ or just to allow other members to use them. I have two 8” reflecting telescopes, one of which is home - made and portable, and one housed in a roll-off-roofed shed in the garden. Our experienced members are always happy to help with enquiries or problems, and we welcome keen potential members.

If you are interested or require further information, please contact Mrs Pat Humby on pat.humby1@ntlworld.com or the Group website: www.hantsastro.org.uk

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