Open University Astronomy Club

This is a temporary web page until the Open University manages to resurrect the official page.

John Walters and Roger Frith's image of Jupiter

Using the Open University’s 16 – inch Schmidt Cassegrain working at F10. The Camera was an Astronomy Source DFK21 colour webcam. The picture was assembled from a 500–frame video stream and was processed using Registax 5.

December 2012 lunar eclipse from the Himalayan foothills by Sheridan

Meetings of the OU Astronomy Club are normally held from 7:30pm - 10:00pm on the first Tuesday of every month from September to June at the Open University, Milton Keynes. The precise venue is given in the table below. Meetings are open to all (even those with no astronomy experience).

Map showing meeting rooms

If you would like to attend an OU Astronomy Club event please contact the Chairman: John Walters Tel: 01908 653830 (day) 01908 648655 (day), e-mail: use the table below or the Secretary: Sheridan Williams Tel: 01525 237370 (anytime) or email using the table below.

Emailing members

I have set up a system whereby one can email the following members of the club simply by appending the following prefixes to: @ouastro.co.uk

Latest notes...

Please bring any photographs you have to the next meeting for the "Members' Journal" spot where you members' are encouraged to talk briefly about anything they have read or seen that is astronomy or space-related.

Meanwhile, please email me (Sheridan) with ideas on topics you would like me to find speakers for next year.

Programme of meetings

Date/Venue	Speaker/Topic	Astronomy News	Sky Notes
6 Sep 2011 Physics Seminar Room	The science and beauty of nebulae Carolin will discuss interstellar space; not truly a vacuum devoid of matter, but inhabited by vast thin clouds of gas and dust that appear as glorious and complex structures. She will showcase some of the most spectacular images of these ‘nebulae’, including many taken with the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. We shall look at them with new eyes, dissecting the pictures and learning how to ‘read’ what they tell us about the turbulent story of the birth and death of stars. Indeed, revealing the science behind the beauty. Dr Carolin Crawford is an astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, Fellow of Emmanuel College. Her research focuses on the properties of the most massive galaxies in the Universe, using data collected from the largest ground-based and space telescopes. Carolin combines her research and teaching with her other passion – communicating her love of astronomy to as wide an audience as possible. She runs the outreach programme at the Institute of Astronomy, and in addition to giving many talks on a wide range of astronomical topics, is a regular contributor to both national and local radio programmes. In 2009 Carolin was noted as one of the UKRC ’s Women of Outstanding Achievement for the communication of science with a contribution to society.		Peter Hudson
4 Oct 2011 Physics Seminar Room	Dr Ulrich Kolb, Senior Lecturer at the Open University PIRATE - the OU's remotely-operable observatory Synopsis: Overview of the current status of the robotic telescope facility PIRATE; this includes a live demonstration (weather permitting) and highlights of its use in teaching and research.		Peter Hudson
1 Nov 2011 Physics Seminar Room	Club night - observing and projects		Peter Hudson
6 Dec 2011 Physics Seminar Room	How to Lose Weight - a Dieter's Guide to Gravity by Mike Frost, Director of the BAA Historical Section This was a talk Mike gave to the British Science Festival.		Peter Hudson
10 Jan 2012 Physics Seminar Room	A review of the Solar Eclipse Conference in Delhi India plus Total Lunar Eclipse photos from the Himalayan foothills by Sheridan Williams This talk could be given in February if a proposed speaker for February would prefer to change dates.		Peter Hudson
7 Feb 2012 Physics Seminar Room	A joint talk by Samantha Rolfe and Euan Monaghan. Euan Monaghan. Methane on Mars The debate about the nature of methane on Mars has been trundling on for years; the arguments are presented here, together with the latest data. Samantha Rolfe Mars: what else is there to know?". A brief overview of what we still need to find out about Mars, focusing on the surface, water and life.		Peter Hudson
6 Mar 2012 Physics Seminar Room	AGM - and a discussion of the way forward for the club - ideas for speakers next year, positions of Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.		Peter Hudson
3 Apr 2012 Physics Seminar Room			Peter Hudson
1 May 2012 Physics Seminar Room	Paul Hyde - British Astronomical Association - Radio Group Talk on radio astronomy, precise details of talk to be determined by club members		Peter Hudson
5 Jun 2012 Physics Seminar Room			Peter Hudson