NWGAS Minutes -- 22nd February, 1997

  Society reps present

Minutes of the last NWGAS meeting at Jodrell Bank on 30th November Minutes were accepted but it was pointed out by K Kilburn that although the feelings of the NWGAS committee regarding National Astronomy Week had been reported back to John Mason, there had not been any response. A second letter was to be sent. (This was sent to John, c/o the BAA, on 23rd March but to date there has again been no reply...Sec.)

  Campaign for Dark Skies

Gerrard said that he would like individual members of NWGAS societies to contact their insurance companies and ask if there was a discount on household insurance if home security lighting was installed. He suspected that there would not be but felt that a survey of insurance companies by policy holders would confirm this matter. It should be noted that there was concern by some NWGAS delegates that asking insurance companies such a direct question could actually prompt them to offer discounts and so promote the use of security lighting.

Robert Fletcher, CfDS regional representative for the Manchester area, reported via Gerrard that Stockport had adopted a policy of sky-friendly lighting. However, Colin Henshaw (Altrincham AS) said that he had complained that the Co-Op Bank had fitted a laser-beam projector to their Stockport headquarters during the Christmas period. This had been visible for many miles, projected on the night sky. Richard Sargent (Chester AS) said that such laser lighting could become permanent features. They were not covered by local legislation and planning permission was not required. Peter Wilson (Macc. AS) said that neither Crewe nor Nantwich had specific polices regarding lighting but Congleton, although sympathetic to the idea of controlling excessive lighting, felt that legislation from central government would be necessary if planning permission were to be required for home security lighting.

  Amateur Astronomy on the WWW

Mike listed the societies for whom he currently represented by organising and updating their web pages. Many 'hits' were in connection with the CfDS, 600/month. Bolton had the most up to date web site and were 'hit' 40/month ( Bolton's new address: http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~sfield/bas/ ), NWGAS 100/month, NWGAS societies individually about 10-50/month, Starwatch UK 250/month, Manchester AS and the SPA each about 800/month. (S&T have again mentioned the Manchester AS web pages in their May edition, the only European astronomical society so listed ) Mike said that he was surprised that other astro magazines rarely made reference to the web pages although this was the most direct way of obtaining information from astronomical societies. However, many NWGAS and other UK societies don't even have their http numbers on their headed notepaper. He considered these to be as important now as telephone contact numbers as so many people interested in astronomy were surfing the net and making initial contact with societies via this medium.

Strange as it might seem, many people in your area don't know that your society exists. Remember, Michael Oates: NWGAS World Wide Web Pages url http://www.u-net.com/ph/nwgas/ These Web pages are to advertise your Society and need to be updated regularly if they are to attract interest. Please send updated programmes of your society's and member's activities. The Web pages need to convey information about your society, what you do, where you meet, what kind of observing is undertaken, etc. A few photographs of your observatory / telescopes, or observations would be most welcome. If your society has a logo, send this, too. All material submitted will be returned if requested. E-mail: Home page: http://www.ph.u-net.com

PLEASE NOTE: Current contact names with telephone numbers or addresses can only be published on the web with the express written permission of those individuals concerned.

  Federation of Astronomical Societies

(a). Starwatch UK. This is down to individual societies, coordinated by the RAS, to measure sky brightness.

(b). FAS AGM. Saturday, 19th April, in Nottingham.

(c). Next FAS Council meeting, Saturday, 17th May.

(d). Please advise Ron Kelly or Dr Mike Inglis regarding any astronomy courses your society or local education authority is running. The FAS are keen to keep a file on these activities.

(e). Alan Dowdell wants new slides for the FAS collection, particularly constellation pictures. Tel . 01264 738619.

(f). The FAS still wants a new Treasurer. If anyone from your society is interested please contact Ron Kelly.

  NWGAS exhibition meeting at Jodrell Bank

  British Astronomical Association

  Society News

Altrincham.

Colin Henshaw had been unsuccessful in persuading the Manchester Evening News to publish his pictures of Hale-Bopp.

Blackpool.

H-B meetings planned. A favourable report was given by Terry Devon re the recent Astrofest meeting.

Chester.

Were holding special observing sessions for Comet Hale-Bopp.

Liverpool.

Sold £560 worth of booklets thanks to publicity in Astronomy Now. Local cable TV companies had recently done live interviews re H-B. Bad weather during their public weekend at Croxteth Park had resulted in only 400 visitors. LAS to host BAA Meteor Section meeting in the autumn. Pexhill observatory, still awaiting completion of safety modifications to the dome and the structural engineer's permission to re-open.

Manchester.

An invitation to Manchester Evening News readers to send for a free Hale-Bopp map had back-fired slightly when it found its way onto national Teletext. Over 750 requests for maps had been received but the additional expense, incurred for those who didn't enclose a SAE as requested, was deemed worthwhile. Every one was eventually replied to. As they say, any publicity is good publicity.

Salford.

Their annual outing was to be on May 10th. but nobody knew where they were going. Southport. Now had more junior members than adults. This was largely because of regular monthly observing sessions for the younger members which attracted many interested parties, mainly by word of mouth. Parents at nearby schools worked with the SAS to encourage astronomy. A word of caution; societies wanting to encourage astronomy at local schools are strongly advised that they should make contact via a formal written introduction to the Headmaster, who may then refer them to the science master or other teacher. It is definitely not recommended that individuals, especially those who do not have a parental connection with the school, be allowed to make the first approach.

  Any Other Business

1. Notice Board at Jodrell Science Centre. Let Cherry Moss have any information regarding your society for inclusion on the Jodrell Notice Board. KJK will print NWGAS society logos if they can be sent to him on floppy disk.

2. The Astronomical Convention at Sachas Hotel, Manchester, planned for 5th July, 1997 has been cancelled owing to unavoidable delays in the planning caused by the unavailability of certain key speakers.

3. Peter Wilson (Macc.AS) felt that a nationally broadcast programme on the subject of light pollution and its affect on the environment would be a good idea.

4. The Lassel Telescope project was now concluded. The instrument will temporarily be on display at the restoration centre, Queens Square, Liverpool prior to longer term storage and modernisation pending a decision on its future use. The project had clearly contributed to the knowledge of 19th century engineering techniques, some of which had not been recorded for posterity. Project engineers had been obliged to reassess how the engineers of the 1840's had worked. A book of the project has been delayed but will appear in due course.

5. The NWGAS delegates address list and list of speakers have been updated. Copies attached to these Minutes.

  Next NWGAS meeting

11.00pm, 7th June, 1997. Pexhill Observatory, Cronton, Nr Warrington. C/o Liverpool Astronomical Society.

Kevin J Kilburn

Secretary NWGAS

5th May, 1997.