14th July: SAS 25th Anniversary

It is the SAS 25th anniversary in July 2018.

The SAS from humble beginnings to now one of the largest, if not the largest and most dynamic Astronomical Societies’ in the North of England.

So the SAS is having a bit of a Birthday do on the Saturday 14 July 2018 to celebrate. 

The will be a buffet and possible a barbeque outside, SAS history related from some of our founding members.

So it’s your chance to find out how it all began.

Also there may be other possible other talks, and of course good craic and  observing (if the weather is favourable).

We ask participants to bring any suitable food/etc for the buffet (similar to Xmas Benker night) and possibly barbeque.

Details on the Barbeque are TBD.

• Date:  Saturday 14th July 2018,
• Time: From 7:30 pm until very late, observing afterwards if weather is favorable.
• Venue: Will take place at at  our Observatory and base of operations the Washington Wetlands Centre.

The event is free to attend (members,  invited guests & the public) though you will need to supply your own barbeque goodies (for e,g, food, disposable barbies, etc), scopes, etc.

15th July Lecture: TRAPPIST-1 System of Exoplanets

In Natalie Heron’s talk she outlines that we’ve possibly found a new solar system, and it threatens to put our own to shame.

The star Trappist-1, a mere 39 light years away, has been found to host seven Earth-sized, rocky planets.

The discovery has astronomers, alien-hunters, and space enthusiasts abuzz for a good few reasons. Among new solar systems discovered so far, none have had more than seven planets (our system has eight). And none have had all seven that were rocky and also Earth-sized.

What’s more, because the star type is among the most common in our galaxy, such solar systems are likely to be quite common. That makes the Trappist-1 system a prime target to accelerate the search for life beyond our own solar system.

18th August: SAS Starbeque

From humble beginnings and as a pre-season event, the annual SAS Starbeque event has now become the stuff of legend and it was our largest attended Starbeque to date.

Held usually on last Saturday in August, but due to the nearest new moon phase.

• Date:  Saturday 18th August 2018,
• Time: From 7 pm until very late, observing afterwards if weather is favorable.
• Venue: Will take place at at Derwent Reservoir located at our Millshield dark sky site.

This is our traditional celebration of the return of darker nights and, as in previous years, 

The event is free to attend (members,  invited guests & the public) though you will need to supply your own barbeque goodies (for e,g, food, disposable barbies, etc), scopes, etc.

Note: There is now a car parking charge of £1.50 for the night Millfields Car Park.

19th August Lecture: Alternative Skies (The Weather and Storm Chasing)

Next to light pollution, the biggest enemy of the astronomer is the cloud cover. Clouds are annoying for our hobby, for all they play an important role to our eco system.

With the summer just going and before astronomy gets back into full swing, why not talk about the weather?

• What are clouds,
• What types are there,
• Can weather be more exciting than a drizzly and foggy November day?

In this lecture  Dr Jurgen Schmoll gives some background information and shows some exciting footage of storm chasing in the great plains of the USA.

1st July: Water Rocket Competition 2018

Back by popular demand the SAS’s annual Water Rocket Competition Is being held on Sunday 1st July 2018 from 7:30 pm .

Join Sunderland Astronomical Society for its Water Rocket Competetion 2018.
Come on down to the Wetlands Centre, the prize in right.
Prize criteria subject to panel of judges based upon:

• Design,
• Build Quality,
• Rocket Launch height,
• Rocket Launch distance

When, Where:

• Date:  Sunday 1st July 2018,
• Time: From 7:30 pm until 10:30 pm,
• Venue: Will take place at at  our Observatory and base of operations the Washington Wetlands Centre.

The event is free to attend (members,  invited guests).

SAS Privacy Policy (GDPR)

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on the 25th May 2018.

We are obliged by this new regulation to:

• Let you know what information we hold.
• Let you know what we do with that information.
• Advise you how to request to review or erase that information.

Your privacy and the security of your personal data is, and will always be, enormously important to us.

Back from the brink: Refurbishing the ‘Perseus’ Grubb-Parsons Telescope

For most astronomical societies, refurbishing an historic scope would be a dream come true. David Ettie of Sunderland Astronomical Society reveals how he and his fellow stargazers did just that.

While the north east of England is well known for mining and heavy industry, until 1985 it also had a hand in producing quality telescopes, courtesy of a company called Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd.

The roots of this enterprise go back to the famous Victorian telescope maker Howard Grubb, who established the Grubb Telescope Company in Dublin in 1833 before the business was moved across the Irish Sea to Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1925.

Acquired by the British engineer Charles Parsons, the company was renamed and became known colloquially as Grubb Parsons. 

For the Full article – please see the Sky at Night Magazine.

17th June Lecture: How Telescopes are made

For over 400 years now astronomy prospers by the use of it’s most important tool, the telescope.

In this lecture  Dr Jurgen Schmoll will show how these wonderful instruments were once made and how they are made today, focusing on research telescopes as well as on amateur equipment where examples of mass production are shown as well as ways to make your own telescope at home.