Society News

• PARTIAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN - Yorkshire Day - Friday August 1st 2008

  Posted On: 29-Jul-2008 by John Harper A partial eclipse of the sun may be seen from Yorkshire and the rest of the UK during the morning of Yorkshire Day, Friday August 1st. From higher latitudes a total eclipse takes place. The path of totality starts at dawn in Northern Canada; it then follows the north coast of Greenland, passes north of Svalbard and enters Siberia, to end at sunset in China. Details for the UK are as follows: First contact, when the moon may be detected as a 'notch' at the very top of the sun's disc, is at 09 28 AM BST. Maximum eclipse, when approximately 25% of the sun's disc is covered is at 10 19 AM. The eclipse ends, as the moon leaves the left limb of the sun, just after 11 11 AM. The next eclipse of the sun visible from the UK will be on January 4th 2011.

  Please remember that looking at the sun directly through any instrument can cause permanent blindness, and home made filters do not adequately filter the harmful light and heat. The only way to observe a solar eclipse is to project its image onto a sheet of paper. This is the only really safe way to observe this type of event.

  However Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society members will be giving guidance during the eclipse, at the Holbeck Clock Tower, on the Esplanade from 9.30 AM onwards. Special telescopes will be available at this venue to view the sun in safety and everyone who wants to visit, is most welcome.

  There is another eclipse during August, this time a lunar one. On August 16th we have our second eclipse of the moon this year, the last was on February 21st.

  This one however is not total. Instead, a small portion of the moon's northern hemisphere remains in sunlight on this occasion. The moon enters the umbra, or deepest part of the earth's shadow at 8 35 PM; maximum eclipse takes place at 10 10 PM, when 80% of the moon is submerged in the umbra. The moon finally leaves the umbra a few seconds before 11 45 PM.

  With very best wishes, John

  John Harper, F.R.A.S.
  President & Founder,
  Scarborough & Ryedale Astronomical Society

• North Yorkshire Astromonical Society

  Posted On: 29-Jul-2008 by Simon Christian An email from Edwin Archer arrived this week. Edwin has set up a Northallerton based astronomical society and is linking to all the astronomical societies and events in the North Yorkshire area. Edwin's details are listed below:

  Website http://northyorksastro.googlepages.com/home

  Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5591757979

  e-mail address: northyorksastro@googlemail.com

  Edwin has registered with astronomyclubs.com and has been placed on the Stargazers Lounge AstroPedia website list of astronomy societies.

  We hope to see you at a Scarborough & Ryedale society event soon.

• The second dome is up!

  Posted On: 29-Jul-2008 by Simon Christian Due the the efforts of Chris, Ken and Nick (+ Sheila and John) the second dome was completed in only one and a half days. Good weather, hard work and previous dome building experience helped a lot! Thanks again to those envolved, the results of your hard work will be enjoyed by many...