ASTRONOMY/HERSCHEL GROUP Evening meetings start at 7.30 pm unless otherwise stated Visitors welcome £2 : Members £1

Dick Phillips Convenor

The Herschel Group is a collaboration between the William Herschel Society and the BRLSI. Its activities are open to the general public.

Its aims are to increase public awareness of the life, work and times of the Herschel family (particularly William and Caroline) through activities which would have been of interest to its members. Naturally, the majority of its activities arise from the family's involvement in astronomy and therefore the group is also informally known as "The Astronomy Group". However, if we knew more about Caroline's culinary skills, her recipes would also be grist to the mill! The group meets, unless otherwise advertised, on the first Friday in each month (except March and August).

NEXT MEETING:

Fri 6 Jun 08
“How does the Sun Work?”
Dr Vince Smith, Bristol University.

The speaker quotes:

"The Sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger,and mosquitoes and silly people"

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

and writes:

"Since mankind began to think, people have wondered what makes the sun shine, and for how long it will continue to do so. In the 20th century, much progress was made in answering these questions. The talk will describe our current knowledge."

Fri 4 Jul 08
Astronomical Films introduced by Prof, Francis Ring, William Herschel Society followed by a Barbecue.

NOTE: The visit to the BAA Exhibition Meeting and the National Space Centre, Leicester on Sat 28 June has been cancelled. Watch this space for details of our Summer trip.

The Herschel Group now incorporates 'Bath Astronomers' which was founded as the 'Bath Astronomical Society' in 1976. This sub-section of the group meets the needs of active observers and those who have always wanted an opportunity to 'see the stars' for themselves through an astronomical telescope. Those with telecopes or binoculars - two members now have telescopes with 30 cm (12-inch) diameter mirrors - meet for regular 'star-gatherings', taking advantage of the dark sky of the nearby village of Wellow. Any member is welcome to attend these if they would like to become on familiar terms with our Universe. The uncertainty of the weather makes it necessary for these gatherings to be arranged at short notice and those interested in being alerted to such events are invited to contact the convenor on 01225 315762.