NWGAS Minutes -- Saturday, 18th July, 1998

The meeting was held at the Godlee Observatory, UMIST, Sackville Street, C/o Manchester AS. Apologies for absence were received from Gwynedd AS and Southport AS. A letter was read out on behalf of Southport AS apologising for their absence but affirming their continued involvement with the NWGAS. It went on to say that they had about 50 copies of the 'Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society', dating from the 1970s that they would be happy to donate to any society requesting them. Interested parties to contact Chris Jones (e-mail chris.j.jones@dial.pipex.com)

  Minutes of the last NWGAS meeting

Held at Hatton Farm, Waverton, C/o Chester AS

Minutes were accepted. There were no matters arising that are not discussed below.

  May Bank Holiday at Jodrell

This NWGAS event, arranged by Cherry Moss (Macclesfield AS) was cancelled owing to a miserable lack of support; apart from Macclesfield, Salford and Manchester ASs. This wasn't enough to justify the cost of a marquee that was to be set up to house the NWGAS -The main exhibition area being fully occupied.

  Campaign for Dark Skies

Peter Wilson was on holiday but Gerard Gilligan said that, nationally, complaints from the public to local councils regarding light pollution, or light trespass, were up by 200%.

  Starwatch UK

5yrs worth of data had still not been reduced or published, owing to staff changes at the RAS. The person originally responsible for the collection of the data had been transferred to other work. Mike Oates said that the web site was 'hit' regularly but there was nothing to update the page. He was considering closing it down. Ron Kelley said that the FAS were disappointed with the failure of the RAS to maintain its involvement in the project.

  Federation of Astronomy Societies

Ron Kelley said that he had had a brain storm and had "forgotten" about the last meeting.

1. At the last FAS meeting , on 6th June, there was concern that FAS subscription only covered 40% of their running costs. A proposal is that subs. Will have to go up.

2. The FAS newsletter is being sorted out and will be an 8-page A4. This will give more opportunity for member societies (all 142 of 'em) to send in more info. to Pam Spence.

3. The FAS Convention will be held on 3rd Oct, at Cambridge. As usual, it will include a tour of the RGO and will have 'big name' lecturers.

4. There are still vacancies on the FAS Council...but beware, this is for active participation only, not just a talking shop. Interested parties please apply.

5. Next FAS AGM, 8th May in Sidmouth.

6. Societies wanting money from PPARC should apply without delay. The more applications, the more chance of being taken seriously and the better the opportunity of being granted funds. This is the opinion of Prof. Ian Halliday, PPARC chairman speaking at the recent FAS AGM, in Newbury, on 9th May.

7. Manchester ASs proposal to host an FAS AGM, is to be discussed.

  NWGAS on the WWW

NWGAS WWW Report sent in by Michael Oates - 18th July 1998.

Star Watch UK:
I have had no updates for the web page at all since I set it up originally, the only data I have seen was that produced by Tomorrow's World's Megalab'96. 2 years ago ! The site still gets quite a lot of hits, about 400-500 per month, so it is a great pity that the information is out of date. I have tried to contact Margaret Penston a few times in the past, and as recently as 29th June, but have not had any reply. If I don't get a reply soon, I may close the site down, as I feel it's an embarrassment. Any comments ?

WWW Access Statistics:
The web sites continue to be accessed regularly. As well as the twelve NWGAS members statistics, I have included some of the other major sites that I maintain. 

  Society		April	  May	June(2wks)**	July (2wks)

  NWGAS			167	  207	     101	129
  Altrincham & Dist AS	 23	   35	      24	  8
  Blackpool & Dist AS	 15	   23	      18	  5
  Bolton*		 28	   32	      18	  6
  Chester AS		 47	   60	      24	 30
  Furness AS		 30	   42	      19	 14
  Gwynedd AS***		  0	    0	       0          0
  Liverpool AS*		 11	   26	      17	 11
  Macclesfield AS*	 60	   80	      31	 18
  Manchester AS* 	  9	   21	      15	  7
  Preston & Dist AS	  8	   19	       9	  6
  Salford AS*		  8	   17	      11	  5
  Southport AS		 11	   27	      10	  7

  StarWatch UK		430	  695	     230	177
  CfDS			805	  876	     461	251
  SPA			727	  895	     512	339
  Manchester AS	       1230      1473	     858	931
* Societies that also have their own web site.
** I am missing 2 weeks of statistics for June due to a server failure.
*** Gwynedd does not have a page, as there is currently no information about the Society.

Uranographia Britannica:
The Bevis Atlas found at the Manchester AS is available on CD-ROM. Information about the Atlas can be found on http://www.u-net.com/ph/mas/bevis/ The CD-ROM can be ordered online. Wil Tirion recently ordered a copy. His comments can be seen on the web page.

Updating the web pages:
Please remember these web pages are for your benefit, to advertise your Society. Keep them up to date by sending information, including any events that you have scheduled.

Michael Oates
Email:
Homepage: http://www.ph.u-net.com
 

  Salford AS

Change of meetings venue.

Salford AS will be using a room in the Maxwell Building at Salford University for future lectures. This is in return for sharing their Chaseley Field Observatory and 18" Newtonian reflector at Chaseley Rd, Salford, with the 'Astronomy with Physics' course at the University. The SAS web site will also be transferred to a server at Salford University.

  NWGAS Convention

Some time ago, it was proposed by Dave Gittins of Liverpool AS, that the NWGAS should hold a convention in the region. This was certainly in the spirit in which the NWGAS was formed five years ago but no further action was taken. However, Manchester AS are again holding their convention at Sachas Hotel, on 3rd October, and it was proposed by K Kilburn, seconded by Tony Cross, the organiser of the event that, if agreed, this event would act as a guinea pig and fly under the NWGAS banner. The aim is to encourage other NWGAS societies to do the same and also to invite the public to attend. Astronomy is being publicised locally via 'Fred's Guide to the Galaxy', on Granada TV. There was a natural reaction from some societies reluctant to commit time and money (although Manchester AS always makes a profit). Chester AS used to hold similar events, hosting BAA meetings. It was suggested that funds might be loaned from larger societies to hire venues. Money was not usually the stumbling block; it was the difficulty, experienced by all societies, of having people available to organise such events. Manchester are willing to show how it is done. It was hoped that, in the same spirit, the next Liverpool AS, Sefton Park public weekend and the next Macclesfield AS, Jodrell Bank Holiday weekends could also be publicised under the NWGAS banner. These are other examples of events requiring quite complicated organisation that have been eminently successful, given enough support from members in the societies concerned.

NWGAS member societies are welcome to have stands at the Sachas meeting, please contact Tony Cross.

  Any Other Business

1. Liverpool, History of Science and Technology Group. An important meeting is to be organised for next year. Gerard Gilligan to advise details in due course.

2. Terry Devon (Blackpool AS) reported that on Friday, 10th July, a strange fireball was seen and had been reported by the national press. This may have been a brilliant meteor but it had not yet been properly identified. Did anyone else see it?

  Next NWGAS meeting

11am, Saturday, 10th October, at Pex Hill Observatory, Cronton, C/o Liverpool AS. NB: Owing to a park ranger's meeting in the afternoon, the NWGAS meeting must end no later than 1.45pm.
K J Kilburn. (Hon. Secretary) September, 1998.
NWGAS Home Page.
This page is no longer updated
Last updated 13th Sept 1999