Blackpool & District Astronomical Society Welcome page Who we are and how to find us Meetings for this year Imminent and planned Starmaps and weather forecasts for Blackpool Members' astrophotography Other interesting sites Contact the Society

Welcome page Who we are and how to find us Meetings for this year Imminent and planned Star maps and other guides Members' astrophotography Other interesting sites Contact the Society
BADAS Events

Keep watching for future events - if you're not a member and are interested in joining, please email the society -

info AT blackpoolastronomy DOT org DOT uk

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Reports of previous BADAS events

Listen again to Radio Lancashire items: Star of Bethlehem, and Gliese 581C (mp3 format)

 

 

 

 

BADAS @ Red Ass

Summer Meal 08

19 June 2008

BADAS had it's second summer meal on 19th June.

After meeting at the Auctioneer, twenty members in all enjoyed an asian buffet including duck, venison and kangaroo, at The Red Ass restaurant, on Bond Street.

 



 

Star Partius Interruptus

10 May 2008

In spite of mixed weather forecasts, four members of BADAS met up at our Pilling observing site around dusk on Saturday 10 May.

Brian's 10" dobsonian had it's first official BADAS outing, Gary brought along his Megrez 80, and Pete and Ryszard had binoculars. We observed the crescent moon, crater Theophilus was the highlight, being just on the terminator.

Mars was seen as a small reddish disc, about 3 degrees West of the moon. Earlier in the day Mars had been occulted by the moon. Saturn was visible through thickening cloud, it's rings clearly becoming ever closer to edge on.

It wasn't long though before the few gaps that there were in the cloud were filled in, and about half past ten we packed up and went home.

Pic - L-R: Gary, Ryszard, Brian and Pete
(far background!)

 

 

Post-meeting visit to Carleton House Observatory

07 May 2008

A few members of BADAS met up at Pete and Alison's house after the normal monthly meeting, to take advantage of a clear night. After a tour around the facilities, Saturn, Epsilon Bootes, M3 and M13 were observed. Later on, Pete demonstrated deep sky imaging. Despite a few technical gremlins, including a still unresolved autoguiding error, this image of M13 was obtained.

(click image to see the full resolution version)

 

 

 

 

Observing session and get together - Warton Bank Observatory

22 March 2008

Several members of BADAS met up at Andrew Elliott's house, after much delay due to bad weather and despite the poor forecasts for the night. The sky was not good, but a good view of Saturn was had during a brief clear interlude.

Sadly the group photo was lost due to technical difficulties. But this photo of Pete washing up at the end of the night is rare enough to justify publication!



 

 

 

 

 

 

Two-night Star Party

15/16 February 2008 - Pilling observing site

Friday
In attendance: Terry, Ray, Chris, Pete, Alison, Ryszard, Ian, Gary, Claire

Saturday
In attendance: Bob, Chris, Pete, Ryszard, Claire, Tony B & son Ben, Ian, Phil

The waxing gibbous moon was one of the main objects on view on both nights. Fine views were had, through a range of different instruments, including the newly donated BADAS 8" newtonian, recently refurbished by Terry and Bob's Fettling Service.

Also on view was Saturn, whose rings are rapidly closing, the Plieades and several of the brighter Messier objects.

 

 

 

PADAS/LAMAS/BADAS Christmas Meal 2007

13 December 2007

There was again a joint meal with neighbouring Preston and Lancaster societies, held at the Garstang Hotel and Golf Club.

The ever impressive Dr Allan Chapman was on hand to give a talk on Edmund Halley.

Nice hat Paul!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perseids Star Party 07

12 August 2007 - Pilling observing site

Twelve of us in all met up at Lane Ends Amenity Area in Pilling, despite mixed skies, to view what turned out to be the best meteor display seen by BADAS members for many years.

Between 1am and 2am BST we counted 68 meteors, 60 of which were Perseids.

Definitely one of the best BADAS star parties ever.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Inaugural BADAS Summer Meal

21 June 07

17 members of BADAS met up for a chinese at China Red in Poulton-le-Fylde. As you can tell from the photograph there was not much food left by the end of the banquet!

 

 

 

 

 



Star Party - Warton Bank Observatory

23 March 2007

Several of us met up at fellow BADAS member and BAA Merlin award winner Andrew Elliott's observatory, after much delay due to bad weather and despite some poor forecasts for the night. However, keen observers Pete and Bob gave the go ahead after checking out all the available forecasts (including Dianne Oxberry!) and a good night was had by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PADAS/LAMAS/BADAS Christmas Meal 2006

Again BADAS joined up with members of PADAS and LAMAS for Christmas meal and a talk by Dr Allan Chapman.

This year the meal was at the Garstang Hotel and Golf Club.

 

 

 

 

September Star Party

21 Sept 2006 - Pilling observing site

An excellent turn out were rewarded with a sky dark enough to see the dust lanes in the Milky Way, despite some light pollution from nearby Blackpool, Heysham and Barrow.

Three telescopes were in use - the society 8.5" f/7 Newtonian on its Dobsonian mount, Pete's 8" f/4 Meade Schmidt-Newtonian, and Tony' s 6" f/6 Newtonian, the latter two on driven equatorial mounts. Almost everyone brought binoculars as well.

With no moon or planets visible, an evening of deep sky observing took place.

Several Messier objects were observed - M57 the Ring Nebula, in Lyra; M27 the Dumbell Nebula, in Vulpecula; M31 the Andromeda Galaxy and its satellite galaxies M32 and M110; M33 the Triangulum Galaxy; M13 globular cluster in Hercules; M92 globular cluster also in Hercules and M45 the Pleiades, in Taurus.

Also observed were NGC 869 and NGC 884 - the Double Cluster in Perseus; the Western loop of the Veil nebula in Cygnus (both with and without UHC filter) and finally
iota Cassiopeia, a triple star.

Observing finished around midnight, when we were beaten by cloud.

 

 

Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 observing session

5 May 2006 - Pilling observing site

Bob, Tony E, Ray, Alison, Pete and Paul met up at Pilling to observe comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3. Main instrument was the society's 6" newtonian. The first quarter moon was the first object observed, then Saturn. Seeing was good early on. Once dark, the hunt was on for the Comet, Pete was first to spot it with his bins. It was then tracked in the society 6". Other objects observed were M13 and M92.

 

 

Saturn Occultation observing session

25 January 2006 - Pilling observing site

Terry, Bob, Alison and Pete observed the occultation of star SAO 98054 (BY Cancri) by the Saturn system.

Through not very patchy cloud, the end of the event was witnessed by all, and Terry managed to get some camcorder video through the Society's 8.5" dobsonian telescope.

The animation at left shows SAO 98054 moving away from Saturn's South Polar Region.

 

 


PADAS Christmas Meal 2005

15 December 2005

For the first time BADAS joined PADAS along with LAMAS for a joint Christmas meal, held at the Crofters Hotel, Garstang.

After the meal we were treated to a talk by
Dr Allan Chapman, on the subject of the life and works of Sir Isaac Newton.

 

 

 

BADAS Christmas Quiz Night 2005

07 December 2005

Andrew's team narrowly beat Terry's team 101-93. Subjects ranged from orbital mechanics to "Top Cat".

Santa was in attendance, skilfully played by Alison, who bleached her beard for the occasion. (Sorry Alison!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of Thursday's attendees

 

Two-night Star Party

16/17 November 2005 - Pilling observing site

Wednesday
In attendance: Terry, Pete, Paul, Alison, Tracey, Ryszard

Arrived onsite to hazy skies but a brilliant full moon and beautiful 22° ice halo - first time Rysard and Alison had seen one.
Paul brought his lx200 and captured some images of the moon despite power problems. Terry brought the society 8.5" dob, through which we had fine views of the moon Mars, and later on Saturn. Pete brought his 8" and also captured some images with his webcam. Eventually the haze turned to cloud and we had to pack up around midnight.

Thursday
In attendance: Bob, Pete, Paul, Alison, Ryszard, Tracey, Tony B

Much clearer than the night before. The main instrument tonight was the Society 6" - this offered excellent views of the Moon and Saturn, though Mars was lacking detail. Other objects observed included the Great Orion Nebula (M42) and the double cluster (NGC 869, NGC 884) in Perseus. Bob guided members through the constellations that were on view.

Paul brought along his lx200 again and Pete took some images of constellations with a digicam and had a go with film.

BADAS star parties are traditionally scheduled to coincide with meteor showers and this night saw the peak of the Leonids. Although we didn't stay for the usual peak in the early hours, Alison did see two Leonids and Pete observed one once back in Blackpool.

 

     
 

 

 

Perseids observing session

12 August 2005 - Pilling observing site

The cloud was rolling in... but (r-l) Chris P, Tony and Pete did see 5 or so Perseids, quite fast with long trails. Observed a satellite passing over the zenith. Pete was experimenting with listening for meteor scatter. We packed up around midnight, when the cloud beat us.

link: International Meteor Organisation

 

   
   
 

 

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