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: Friday 3 September 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

How Apollo Flew to the Moon

Terry Flower - Bristol Astronomical Society 

With emphasis on Apollo 11 the talk will follow, from launch to splashdown, a virtual flight to the Moon and back. It will explore significant steps of the journey and detail some of the enormous range of disciplines, techniques and procedures the Apollo crew members had to master. Also discussed will be the incredible ‘spaceships’ and the reasoning behind the choice of trajectories to the Moon and of lunar landing sites. Anecdotes of Apollo crew members will be included.

Programme

Meetings start 7.00 for 7.30 unless otherwise stated.
Suggested donations: Visitors £4: BRLSI/WHS Members/Students £2
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2010

Fri 8 Jan    "Stars and Bombs - Astrophysics and the birth of Nuclear Weapons" - Dr. Martin Griffiths, Glamorgan Uni.

Fri 5 Feb    "The Universe through Einstein's Lenses" - Dr Rodney Hillier, Bristol University

Fri 5 Mar     No lecture. Members will set up a stand at Bath University's "Bath Taps into Science" Exhibition,
                   CANCELLED
Sat 6 Mar   Members will set up a stand at Bath University's "Bath Taps into Science" Exhibition,
                   CANCELLED

Sat 6 Mar   William Herschel Society Annual Lecture "Deciphering the Universe" - Prof. Andrew Liddle
                   University of Sussex. Venue BRLSI Queens Square Bath. £5 Tickets available at the door.

Fri 9 Apr    "The Kepler Mission and the search for Exoplanets" - Andrew McLean, Bristol Astronomical Society

Fri 14 May "The Magic of Starlight" - Richard Cardy, Beckington Astronomical Society

Fri 11 Jun "Travel to the Stars: The Science and Engineering of Interstellar Spaceflight"
                       - Dr Ian Crawford, Birkbeck College, University of London.

Fri 9 Jul    "Astronomical Miscellany and Barbecue" - Herschel Group Members

Fri 3 Sep "How Apollo Flew to the Moon" - Terry Flower, Bristol Astronomical Society

 

OBSERVING

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 without telescopes who have always wanted an opportunity to 'see the stars' for themselves through an astronomical telescope.

Those with telescopes or binoculars meet for regular 'star-gatherings', taking advantage of the dark sky from the car park in Wellow (if the Moon is visible) or a field off Gypsy Lane south of Saltford, between Corston and Keynsham (when the sky is really dark). Recently we have found a promising site near Marshfield. You are welcome to attend these if you would like to get on familiar terms with our Universe. Bring your telescope or binoculars if you have them but you are just as welcome if you have neither.

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  leave their contact details (preferabley and e-mail address) with the Administrator of the BRLSI. Details and a map to the site chosen will be sent out to those whose e-mail address appears in an 'alert' address folder.

As from February 2010, Bath Astronomers will also be meeting on a quarterly basis for discussion between those who are interested in observing the Universe for themselves. The next meeting, at 7.30 p.m. will be at the former home of William Herschel:

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy, 19 New King Street, Bath on 23 September 2010.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE

For further information about the activities of Bath Astronomers, please go the the web-site: http://www.bathastronomers.co.uk