AstronomyCast audio podcast

There’s a great podcast called AstronomyCast which I’ve been listening to lately and I thought you all may be in interested in.

You don’t need to have any fancy podcast device like an iPod – the files are just normal MP3s which can be opened on virtually any computer without special software, and also on many mobile phones these days.

Their main website is http://www.astronomycast.com/ or the full episode archive is at: http://www.astronomycast.com/archive/

Each episode is about 40 minutes long, and they cover a different topic each time. Occasionally they will go back and revisit topics, especially if people have written in with questions asking for more info. They also sometimes have episodes devoted to questions people have asked, which I always find interesting.

The show is hosted by Fraser Cane of Universe Today and Dr. Pamela Gay of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

They’ve covered all sorts of areas, from the Big Bang, to the birth of Solar System, to the entropy death of the Universe, with lots of stops along the way for things like each of the planets and several of the major moons, Gravitational Waves, Hubble (the person and the telescope, separately), tidal forces, wave-particle duality, Astrometry, pulsars, quasars, black holes, nebulae and much more.

I hope you find their shows as interesting as I do!

BBC Stargazing Live 2013

Orion and scope (Image by Rob Johnson)

The BBC ran “Stargazing Live” again in 2013.

Click here to find all Liverpool Astronomical Society reports from this year’s Stargazing Live events (more will be added as we get them) and if you have an event report you wish to submit to the website please let us know!

The BBC TV programmes have now ended and the iPlayer links no longer lead to the recorded broadcasts as they have gone past the BBC’s expiry date. The links have been left in place as they may still have information which you find useful.

Remember that although the television part of Stargazing Live 2013 has ended, there are still multiple events taking place across the UK in the coming weeks.

LAS Stargazing Live Events

The LAS will be hosting three Stargazing Live events during January.
All these events are free and open to everyone.
Please note that if the weather is poor, the talks will still take place and don’t forget to wrap up warm! If the weather is bad enough to warrant rescheduling or cancellation, notices will be placed on the website.

The events are as follows:-

Tonight:

 Already taken place:

  • Friday, 11th January 2013, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
    • Court Hey Park (National Wildflower Centre),
      Roby Road,
      Liverpool,
      L16 3NA
      Click here for a Google Map
    • Come in through the main entrance gates, and signs should be visible directing you from that point. If you miss the signs, then drive along the road through the park for a minute and we’ll be on the left-hand side. We may not be lit up, especially if the sky is clear, but if in doubt there should be somebody on the main gate who will be able to point you to us.
      Update at 17:52       – it’s looking like it might be cloudy later (possibly with some small, clear periods) but there are still talks and presentations, we’ll be answering your questions and we will have our telescopes with us for people to see, so don’t be put off if the cloud remains! If you have a telescope or binoculars but aren’t sure how to use them, bring them along and we’ll be happy to give advice.Hope to see you there!
    • Short BBC page about this event
  • Saturday, 19th January 2013, 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Television

The television programmes were broadcast on BBC2 and BBC HD over three nights:

Click here for the latest programme schedule and more detailed information on each programme.

New LAS website, 19th December 2012

Important Website Update

If you are a returning user, you will see that the Liverpool Astronomical Society website has changed. The previous website software was no longer suitable for our needs, and so we decided it was time to update it.

If you were a registered user on the old website, you will need to re-register!
We apologise for this inconvenience, but it was necessary to ensure the security of your accounts.

You may re-register by clicking here or from the Register link at the end of main menu.

All the pages which were present on the old site have been migrated, as well as images and forum posts.
In addition, the archived version of our pre-2004 website (the light-blue one) containing many event reports and images has now been completely integrated with the new site, meaning the search function can now find those pages.

Features of the website now include:

  • Drill down categories for articles – what are these and how do they work?
    • The categories are listed on the right of the homepage.
      You can click on a category to see the articles it contains, or click the [+] next to it to expand it, showing any sub-categories it may have. These may also have a [+] next to them.
  • Better support for smaller device screens (e.g. iPhone, Android, small monitors)
  • Commenting on articles (for registered users – create an account by clicking here)
  • RSS Feeds so you can be notified automatically whenever a new article is added
    • A link to the main feeds can be on the menu, along with instructions on how to create custom feeds.
  • Better categorisation and search results

We hope you enjoy using the new website and find it useful.
Regards,
LAS Website Team

Sir Patrick Moore has passed away

It is a sad day today with the passing of
Sir Patrick Moore

Sir Patrick Moore (1923 - 2012)

1923 – 2012

From the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20657939

He “passed away peacefully at 12:25 this afternoon” at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, they said in a statement.Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest running host of the same television show ever.

He wrote dozens of books on astronomy and his research was used by the US and the Russians in their space programmes. Described by one of his close friends as “fearlessly eccentric”, Sir Patrick was notable for his habit of wearing a monocle on screen and his idiosyncratic style.

Sir Patrick presented the first edition of The Sky at Night on 24th April 1957. He last appeared in an episode broadcast on Monday.

A statement by his friends and staff said:
“After a short spell in hospital last week, it was determined that no further treatment would benefit him, and it was his wish to spend his last days in his own home, Farthings, where he today passed on, in the company of close friends, carers and his cat Ptolemy.”

“Over the past few years, Patrick, an inspiration to generations of astronomers, fought his way back from many serious spells of illness and continued to work and write at a great rate, but this time his body was too weak to overcome the infection which set in, a few weeks ago.
Through his regular monthly programmes he was telling us what to look for and what was out there and that was a real inspiration”

Continue reading →

Our affiliations and involvements with other societies

British Astronomical Association

Affiliated to the British Astronomical Association

Image ©British Astronomical Association

Federation of Astronomical Societies

Member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies

Image ©Federation of Astronomical Societies

North West Group of Astronomical Societies

Founder member of the North West Group of Astronomical Societies

Image ©NWGAS

Vlasim Astronomical Society

Twinned with Vlasim Astronomical Society

Image ©Vlasim Astronomical Society

What do we do at the Liverpool Astronomical Society?

The LAS has been involved in many areas of astronomy over the years, including specialist activities.

Some of our remit has covered:

Astronomical History (e.g. The Royal Insurance Lassell Telescope Project)
Campaign for Dark Skies
Computing
Deep Sky
Lunar and Planetary Observations (including Occultations and Transient Lunar Phenomena)
Meteor Observations
Multi-spectral Astronomy (e.g. Radio Astronomy, hydrogen-alpha Solar Astronomy)
Observational trips in the UK and abroad (including Eclipse Trips and Expeditions)
Photography & Astrophotography (on various media, e.g. Film, Slide, Digital, Video, Webcam)
Spaceflight (Manned and Unmanned)
Spectroscopy
Weather Satellite Reception
Variable Stars Observations

Astrophotography by Charlie Jordan

The Night Sky for November 2012

With the stars of Virgo lying above the south east horizon, have a glance on the 26th after 07:00 to find Venus and Saturn making a nice pairing with Spica above and to the right. As the minutes advance look below and to the left of the two planets to catch Mercury rising within the faint consellation of Libra. With the Sun rising just before 08:00 the sky will be brightening and will soon wash out Mercury and Saturn, but how long can you keep Venus in view for without optical aid? The trick is to place the planet close to a prominent object such as a tree or a dark building, to make a focal point on an otherwise bland sky. Venus ought to be visible even after Sunrise - if you know exactly where to look.

With the stars of Virgo lying above the south east horizon, have a glance on the 26th after 07:00 to find Venus and Saturn making a nice pairing with Spica above and to the right.
As the minutes advance look below and to the left of the two planets to catch Mercury rising within the faint consellation of Libra.
With the Sun rising just before 08:00 the sky will be brightening and will soon wash out Mercury and Saturn, but how long can you keep Venus in view for without optical aid? The trick is to place the planet close to a prominent object such as a tree or a dark building, to make a focal point on an otherwise bland sky. Venus ought to be visible even after Sunrise – if you know exactly where to look.

Sidewalk Astronomy Events for 2012 – 2013

2012

FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER 2012, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Sherdley Park,
St Helens,
WA9 5DE

For more info click here

FRI 30 NOVEMBER 2012 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Taylor Park,
St Helens,
WA10 3HX

For more info click here

2013

FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2013 – 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Halewood Visitors Centre,
Okell Drive,
Knowsley,
L26 7XB

For more info click here

 

Want to know what Sidewalk Astronomy is all about? Click here to find out!