====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00151 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== The discovery of a new comet, initially seen in the SOHO SWAN images, has been announced in the IAUC. It is currently a southern hemisphere object, but should be visible in UK skies from mid July. Further details are on the comet section web page at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds Once the orbit is known with greater certainty a BAA paper circular will be issued. Jonathan Shanklinj.shanklin@bas.ac.uk British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, Englandhttp://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met/jdshttp://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met/jds/Notes from Antarctica 2004.htmhttp://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Fri May 28 13:36:10 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00150 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== Neil Bone reports that this star is much brighter than he's seen it in about a decade - not far off Eta Cyg in brightness and an easy naked eye object. Regards, Roger ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Wed May 19 23:04:01 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00148 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== The next meeting of the British Astronomical Association Date:Wednesday 26th May 2004 The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Doors open at 17:00 Programme: "Historical Transits of Venus" Peter Hingley, Librarian, Royal Astronomical Society Martin Mobberley's Sky Notes "Henry McEwen of Glasgow" Richard McKim, Director, Mars Section, BAA All welcome. No charge for attendance. Tea available Nick Hewitt Meetings Secretary ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Wed May 19 01:57:55 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00147 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== My previous communication concerning the imminent CCD Photometry Symposium (Northampton, 15-16 May) was enigmatically cropped at the end, and the missing section is therefore included below. Karen Holland is still revising and modifying the fine details of the meeting to accommodate the numerous speakers and the large array of equipment and exhibition material. R.A. Marriott Director, Instruments and Imaging Section __________________ Meeting Organisers __________________ Karen Holland: karen.holland@xcam.co.uk Bob Marriott: ram@hamal.demon.co.uk Enquiries concerning talks and photometric equipment should be addressed to Karen Holland Enquiries concerning lecture equipment and media, and general enquiries, should be addressed to Bob Marriott Details of the meeting are available on the Instruments and Imaging Section web site athttp://www.britastro.org/iandi/ A location map of the Humfrey Rooms is available on the NNHS web site athttp://www.hamal.demon.co.uk/location.htm ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Wed May 12 03:52:25 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00146 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== Instruments and Imaging Section Web site: latest update Twenty new pages Other pages updated Details of the CCD Photometry Symposiumhttp://www.britastro.org/iandi/ R.A. Marriott Director, Instruments and Imaging Section _______________ PRO-AM CCD PHOTOMETRY SYMPOSIUM A joint meeting of the Variable Star Section and the Instruments and Imaging Section; supported by the Royal Astronomical Society Saturday-Sunday, 15-16 May 2004 At the headquarters of Northamptonshire Natural History Society The Humfrey Rooms, Castilian Terrace, Northampton A meeting designed for all those interested in conducting CCD photometry, and aimed at encouraging discussion and collaboration in this field Doors open, 9.00; meeting begins 10.30 (Saturday), 10.00 (Sunday) __________________ Saturday Programme __________________ New CCD Projects for Amateur Telescopes Professor Tim Naylor, Norman Lockyer Professor of Astrophysics at Exeter University, has supported amateur work on cataclysmic variable stars for many years. Robotic Telescopes: a Threat to Amateur Observers? Dr Peter Wheatley is a lecturer at Leicester University, and is one of the instigators of the Wasp Project. His talk will include an update on this project. Photometric Projects using the Faulkes Telescope Dr Richard Beare is the Faulkes Telescope Project Director of Education, based at the University of Warwick. He will talk about Faulkes Telescope data processing using the free software (DS9) and a spreadsheet to measure and analyse surface brightness profiles of galaxies, together with other techniques. CCD Photometry of Transient Objects Tonny Vannmunster, of the Centre for Backyard Astrophysics, Belgium, has for many years conducted publishable unfiltered time-series photometry on targets of interest. Cometary Photometry Nick James Asteroid Photometry Richard Miles A Brief Outline of VS Section Initiatives Roger Pickard ________________ Sunday Programme ________________ Amateurs will talk about their work and discuss the finer points of good photometry. This will be a more relaxed session, so if you would like to contribute, please inform the organisers in advance - although it is hoped that there will be plenty of time for discussion and unscheduled talks (even very short items). All types of equipment and media can be accommodated. Contributors so far (and there may be others) are as follows: CCD Working Party Initiatives Roger Pickard Peranso Analysis Software Tonny Vannmunster A VS Section Excel Spreadsheet to Aid Data Reduction David Boyd The CCD Mentoring Scheme and CCD Target List Karen Holland [Title to be announced] Stan Waterman CCD Photometric Projects at Nyrola Observatory Arto Oksanen Calibration of Unfiltered Photometry Richard Miles CCD Photometry at Lymm Observatory John Saxton Photometric Experiments with a Digital Camera James Weightman It's Surprising What You Can Measure David Boyd Amateur Photometry: A Strategy for Survival in the Terabytes-per-day Era of Professional Photometry Norman Walker __________ Facilities __________ As well as the talks on the two days, the following will be available: All-day software try-out sessions PCs will be available in a side room, providing the opportunity to try out popular photometric software, including the widely-used AIP4Win. This software is being updated regularly, and we would appreciate your feedback so that we can collate all comments to convey to the authors. There will also be an opportunity to try the VS Section's data template, being designed to help the organisation and checking of reduced photometry. All feedback will be welcomed. CCD linearity testing John Saxton has kindly agreed to bring equipment for testing the linearity of CCD cameras (on both days), so if you would like to know exactly how well your camera performs, then bring it with you for testing. (You will also have to bring all that you need to operate your camera and save images for analysis. If you are unsure of what is required, please contact the meeting organisers in advance.) Poster displays of current work There will be poster displays of the VS Section's CCD target list (the new CCD charts will also be available on the day) and of real science already being undertaken by amateurs. Existing collaborations can be joined, and new collaborations can be set up. Members' posters and displays will be welcomed, to encourage discussion and collaboration. ___________________ Hotel Accommodation ___________________ The most convenient hotel - close to the railway station, and a ten- minute walk from the Humfrey Rooms - is the recently built (and ugly) Ibis Hotel, Sol Central, Marefair (01604 608900). Prices begin at 37.95 per room. Car parking is extra, as follows: 6 pm-8 am, 2 Other times: up to 2 hours, 1; 4 hours, 3; 6 hours, 6; 8 hours, 8; 10 hours, 10; max 24 hours, 12 ______________ Fees and Lunch ______________ There will be a fee of 2.50 per day to cover in-house morning and afternoon refreshments. It will not be possible to organise a lunch-time buffet, but the rooms will remain open for anyone wishing to bring their own lunch, and there are numerous eating parlours and drinking dens in the area. __________________ Meeting Organisers __________________ ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Tue May 11 22:02:10 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00143 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== Members are reminded that this Symposium is nearly upon us and further details can be found on both the I and I and VSS web sites. Some members are travelling some distance to attend this meeting and are willing to pick up others en route. For example, Clive Beech will be travelling from Plymouth and is happy to pick up others who live anywhere near the following route: Plymouth (A38) Exeter (M5) Bristol (M4) Swindon (cross country) Northampton. Similarly, the Director will be travelling from Herefordshire via Droitwich, the M5, M42, M6 and M1 to Northampton and will be happy to pick up anyone en route. Please note though that both Clive and myself will also be staying overnight in Northampton. Please contact me if you which to arrange travel with Clive or myself or if you which to offer others a lift. Members with CCDs are also reminded that they will have the opportunity to test their CCD for linearity at this Meeting but they will need to bring along all associated cables and dedicated software and ideally their own laptop or PC. Please also contact Karen Holland if you wish to test your CCD in this manor so that it can be scheduled into the day (or the following day if you are staying for the Sunday session. Roger Pickard ----- Director, BAA Variable Star Section, 3 The Birches, Shobdon, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9NG England. Tel: 01568 708136 (Int: +441568708136) E-mail: rdp@star.ukc.ac.uk BAA VSS Web Page: www.britastro.org/vss ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Mon May 10 16:11:59 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00142 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== PRO-AM CCD PHOTOMETRY SYMPOSIUM A joint meeting of the Variable Star Section and the Instruments and Imaging Section; supported by the Royal Astronomical Society Saturday and Sunday, 15-16 May 2004 At the headquarters of Northamptonshire Natural History Society The Humfrey Rooms, Castilian Terrace, Northampton A meeting designed for all those interested in conducting CCD photometry, and aimed at encouraging discussion and collaboration in this field ________________________ Saturday Programme Talks: New CCD Projects for Amateur Telescopes: Professor Tim Naylor, Norman Lockyer Professor of Astrophysics at Exeter University, has supported amateur work on cataclysmic variable stars for many years. Robotic Telescopes: a Threat to Amateur Observers?: Dr Peter Wheatley is a lecturer at Leicester University, and is one of the instigators of the Wasp Project. His talk will include an update on this project. CCD Photometry of Transient Objects: Tonny Vannmunster, of the Centre for Backyard Astrophysics, Belgium, has for many years conducted publishable unfiltered time-series photometry on targets of interest. Photometric Projects using the Faulkes Telescope: Dr Richard Beare is the Faulkes Telescope Project Director of Education, based at the University of Warwick. He will talk about Faulkes Telescope data processing using the free software (DS9) and a spreadsheet to measure and analyse surface brightness profiles of galaxies, together with other techniques. Workshop sessions: Nick James: Cometary Photometry Richard Miles: Asteroid Photometry It is hoped that there will be time for a discussion session to include the VS Section's initiatives being set up to assist the new observer. This will also provide an opportunity to tell us how you would like more assistance. All-day software try-out sessions: PCs will be available in a side room, providing the opportunity to try out popular photometric software, including the widely-used AIP4Win. This software is being updated regularly, and we would appreciate your feedback so that we can collate all comments to convey to the authors. There will also be an opportunity to try the VS Section's data template, being designed to help the organisation and checking of reduced photometry. All feedback will be welcomed. Poster displays of current work: There will be poster displays of the VS Section's CCD target list (the new CCD charts will also be available on the day) and of real science already being undertaken by amateurs. Existing collaborations can be joined, and new collaborations can be set up. Members' posters and displays will be welcomed, to encourage discussion and collaboration. CCD linearity testing: John Saxton has kindly agreed to bring equipment for testing the linearity of CCD cameras, so if you would like to know exactly how well your camera performs, then bring it with you for testing. (You will also have to bring all that you need to operate your camera and save images for analysis. If you are unsure of what is required, please contact the meeting organisers in advance.) ________________________ Sunday Programme Amateurs will talk about their work and discuss the finer points of good photometry. This will be a more relaxed session, at which all are encouraged to attend and contribute (even very short items). Attendees who are already planning on speaking at this session include David Boyd, Richard Miles, Steve Parkinson, Roger Pickard, John Saxton and Stan Waterman. If you would like to contribute, please inform the organisers in advance - although it is hoped that there will be plenty of time for unscheduled talks on the day. All types of equipment and media can be accommodated. ________________________ Hotel Accommodation The most convenient hotel - close to the railway station, and a ten- minute walk from the Humfrey Rooms - is the recently built (and ugly) Ibis Hotel, Sol Central, Marefair (01604 608900). Prices begin at 37.95 per room. Car parking is extra, as follows: 6 pm-8 am, 2 Other times: up to 2 hours, 1; 4 hours, 3; 6 hours, 6; 8 hours, 8; 10 hours, 10; max 24 hours, 12 ________________________ Fees and Lunch There will be a fee of 2.50 per day to cover in-house morning and afternoon refreshments. It will not be possible to organise a lunch-time buffet, but the rooms will remain open for anyone wishing to bring their own lunch, and there are numerous eating parlours and drinking dens in the area. ________________________ Meeting Organisers Karen Holland: karen.holland@xcam.co.uk Bob Marriott: ram@hamal.demon.co.uk Enquiries concerning talks and photometric equipment should be addressed to Karen Holland. Enquiries concerning lecture equipment and media, and general enquiries, should be addressed to Bob Marriott. A location map of the Humfrey Rooms is available at http://www.hamal.dem on.co.uk/location.htm This message will be posted on the Instruments and Imaging Section web site: http://www.britastro.org/iandi/ R.A. Marriott Director, Instruments and Imaging Section ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Tue Apr 13 02:23:08 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00141 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== Bill Bradfield has discovered a new comet. It is currently in solar conjunction and will pass through the SOHO coronagraph field over April 16 to 20. It then moves rapidly away from the Sun and may be picked up in the morning twilight as a 4th magnitude object around April 23rd. The orbit should be improved once the object tracks through the SOHO field and so a further circular will appear next week. In the meantime updates will appear on the Section web page when available. Jonathan Shanklin Comet Section ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Mon Apr 12 21:51:55 BST 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00140 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== JANET MATTEI It is with much regret that I pass on the very sad news of the death of = the Director of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, Dr = Janet Mattei, last Monday after a long battle with Acute Myelogenous = Leukemia. I first met Janet around 1994 when I attended an informal gathering at Cambridge University to discuss amateur-professional collaboration in = Variable Star astronomy. Although I had never before met her before, = she warmly welcomed me with what I later came to know as the "Janet hug" = a very warm and affectionate greeting. I next met her a couple or so years later at a TA meeting where she = turned as I entered the room and immediately recognised me and gave me = another hug. I was extremely impressed that she should have remembered = me as we had not communicated at all in the interim. I was to meet Janet twice in 2002. The first was at the 2002 AAVSO = Hawaii meeting after which we shared a flight from Hawaii to the = main-land USA where, despite having run this exhausting Meeting she = still found the energy to discuss the analysis of variable star light = curves! The second was at the AFOEV Meeting in Bourbon-Lancy, France, = where, at the banquet at the end of the meeting we discussed how = international co-operation should proceed. Janet will be sorely missed by all by all variable star enthusiasts.=20 I have also been touched my the many emails from around the world, = including Russia and Japan, from both amateur and professional = astronomers who perhaps only met her once but who have been moved to = express their sadness.=20 I end with a quote from a close friend of Dr Mattei's, Mario Motta, MD:- "The world of astronomy has lost a patron of her field. Amateur = astronomers the world over have lost a mentor who bridged the world of = amateurs and professionals." Our condolences go to her husband, Mike, and all her family and friends = and especially the staff of the AAVSO headquarters. Roger Pickard Director BAA VSS ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C41354.43CA79A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printablenbsp;HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
====================================================================== BAA electronic circular No. 00139 http://www.britastro.org/ ====================================================================== The next meeting of the British Astronomical Association Date:Wednesday 31st March 2004 The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Doors open at 17:00 Special General Meeting followed by an Ordinary Meeting Speakers will include: Meghan Gray "Illuminating the Invisible: Uncovering Dark Matter with Gravitational Lensing" Martin Mobberley's Sky Notes John Rogers "The winds within Jupiter's storms as tracked by amateurs around the world" All welcome. No charge for attendance. Tea available Advance notice: Observers' Workshop No. 5 Saturday April 24th 2004 Nottingham High School for Girls Roger Dymock - Observing Near Earth Asteroids Gary Poyner - Variable star observing from the city Bob Marriott - Drawing the Moon Mike Foulkes - Following features on Jupiter Martin Taylor - Web cam imaging of the planets See www.britastro.org for details and maps Nick Hewitt Meetings Secretary ====================================================================== BAA electronic circulars service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org To unsubscribe please send an e-mail to circadmin@britastro.org Circular transmitted on Tue Mar 16 18:53:41 GMT 2004 (c) 2004 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/ ======================================================================
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