Lecture Programme 2008-2009

This is the lecture programme for 2008/2009.

Date	Time	Subject	Speaker
25-Sep-08	7.00 pm	Gamma Ray Astronomy from Space and from the ground	Dr. Paula Chadwick, Durham University
23-Oct-08	7.00 pm	Web Cam Astronomy	David Hyde, Durham
30-Oct-08	5.30 pm	"A female astronomer reflects..."	Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Oxford University. Meeting in Curtis Auditorium, Newcastle University
20-Nov-08	7.00 pm	A Universe in your PC?	David Hughes, Newcastle Astronomical Society
11-Dec-08	6.30 pm	The 2006 Solar Eclipse in Libya	Steve Barrett, University of Liverpool. Joint Meeting with Institute of Physics, in Herschel Building, Newcastle University. Note earlier start time.
22-Jan-09	7.00 pm	Star Party	Vallum Farm, Military Road, Northumberland
19-Feb-09	7.00 pm	Member's night Sky Pollution Guiding a telescope	Carl Willits Harry Poyzner
19-Mar-09	7.00 pm	Telescope meeting at the Red Cross Building	Please bring an instrument and support this event.
23-Apr-09	7.00 pm	What you see is what you get?	Gordon Moir, Newcastle
21-May-09	6.30 pm	AGM plus Exhibition	Please bring something along for the exhibition. Also, note the earlier start time.

Promotional Poster

A promotional poster detailing the programme is also available for download here.

Minutes of the monthly meeting of 23rd October 2008 (approval pending)

Announcements

The Chairman welcomed members and the several potential new members present. The Secretary asked that members look at his list and update any items where necessary. He also detailed the steps he was taking to rationalise the list.

Speaker

The chairman then introduced the speaker for the evening Dr. David Hyde of Durham University. The subject of his talk was "Webcam Astronomy".

This was an illustrated talk with a great deal of practical information and advice included for those wishing to experiment with relatively inexpensive equipment. Dr. Hyde stressed that he was a biologist professionally and that his astronomy was on an amateur basis although there were connections with his work on the biology of vision.

In the recent past CCDs had become the tools of preference for the production of astronomical images but these were expensive and although becoming less so they were still beyond the means of the large majority of amateurs. As a result, the use of modified webcams such as the Philips SPC900NC was becoming increasingly popular with writers such as Dave Allman and Steve Chambers offering advice on the web. He detailed the modifications necessary to make the cameras useable as astronomical imagers and described the limitations of them.

He then stated that probably the most important tool was the software required for processing the images. There were several useful sources for this freely available on the Internet in addition to the Philips software.

An impressive demonstration of the processing of some Moon images showed how powerful such techniques as Ò stackingÓ can be. There were many interesting questions from members, some of which demonstrated that this is a process in which some members are already involved.

Dr. Charles who reminded Dr. Hyde of a previous memorable and enjoyable lecture to the society some five years previously proposed a vote of thanks.

27 members and guests were present.

D.O.N.M. 20.11.2008