Basic Astronomy and Observation Programme
Welcome to Cranfield Astronomical Society.
Our ‘normal’ regular weekly meetings shall resume online from 11 January. To receive the link to join the events, please join using the registration link.
Our main communication is through emails to registered members. Our Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are also channels used by the community.
Introduction
The Cranfield Astronomical Society aims to provide a forum at Cranfield for the discussion of all astronomical matters, to encourage amateur observation and to operate, on behalf of the University, the observatory which was built to house the telescopes.
We are a friendly group and a happy blend of novices and experts.
Basic Astronomy Course
As part of our regular meetings, the Society runs a course in Basic Astronomy and Observation on Tuesday evenings.
The programme starts in October and runs just before Easter. It is designed to help you to do astronomy without coming to the observatory.
The cost of membership is £10 for students and staff of Cranfield University (this includes the course and use of equipment). Persons not related to Cranfield University can join as Associate Members.
Membership fees are waived until we can meet face to face again.
2022 Winter Term Programme
Programme from January 2022
Regular meetings continue to be online in this term. The committee is exploring COVID safe face to face meetings, any information shall be emailed to members who registered.
The Teams link for meetings is emailed to members who registered.
Registration Link
| All meeting are on Teams for now. The Teams link shall be emailed to registered members one day before the meeting. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Topic | Moon ephemeris |
| 11 January 19:30-20:30 | Image processing of Astro-photographs | 70% Phase Waxing |
| 18 January 19:30-20:30 | Introduction to stellar spectroscopy | Rises 16:37 Full Moon |
| 25 January 19:30-20:30 | Mars. Why? Why not? | Rises 01:39 54% Moon |
| 1 February 19:30-20:30 | Geology of the rocky planets | Sets 16:55 New Moon |
| 8 February 19:30-20:30 | The Development of the HR diagram and it’s uses | Rises 10:23, Transits 18:05,52% Sets 02:04 |
| 15 February 19:30-20:30 | Synthesis of Elements in the Universe | Rises 15:35 Full Moon |
| 22 February 19:30-20:30 | Cepheid variable stars and the Discovery of Galaxies | Rises 00:52 70% No Moon in evening |
| 1 March 19:30-20:30 | The Cosmic Distance Scale | No Moon |
| 8 March 19:30-20:30 | Galaxy Distribution | Rises 08:43 34% Sets 01:00 |
| 15 March 19:30-20:30 | Current cosmology from the Big Bang till now | Rises 14:31 94% Near Full Moon |
| 22 March 19:30-20:30 | CranSEDS | Rises 00:06 83% No Moon in Evening |
| 29 March 19:30-20:30 | New Horizons Mission Dave Eagle | No Moon. Clocks on 1hr 26th March |
| 5 April 19:30-20:30 | Results of 3rd CASAC | Sets 19:55 0.01% New Moon Sun sets at 1943. Possible minimum crescent sighting. |
| All programme are subject to changes. |
About us
The Cranfield Astronomical Society membership is mainly Cranfield University students and staff. It is one of the active local amateur astronomical societies and helped many to enjoy the night sky.
Meetings
At the moment, all meetings are online. The links shall be posted one day before the meeting.
During NORMAL term time the Society meetings are held on Tuesday evenings in the CSA lounge at 7:30pm on the main Cranfield campus, except when events or lectures are organised elsewhere. As much as the weather permits, observation at Loxham Observatory is prioritised. Special observing sessions are arranged, not necessarily Tuesdays, to enable newcomers to gain experience or to observe incidental astronomical events.
The Observatory
The observatory is equipped with a Celestron C11 telescope on a powered equatorial mounting. Facilities exist for simple astrophotography through the main equipment. Some computer software is available for demonstration and observation calculations. There is also a range of portable equipment for offsite observation.
Members of the Society are permitted to operate the telescopes at their own convenience, provided they are able to demonstrate competence in doing so. Training is provided.
