Membership Subscription Renewals for 2017-2018

September is the start of our new season. SAS Memberships will be due from 1st September 2017 (payable throughout September) for this season 2017/2018.

Joining/Renewing helps support your local astronomical society & community.

So come on down to the Cygnus Observatory join or renew your SAS membership.

The SAS the largest & probably most active astronomical society’s in the North East, for advice, information, observing the night sky, and get together at various meet-ups, events, visits and join in the ‘Craic’ on all things astronomical.

SAS Membership Survey 2017: We need your help

Dear SAS Members,

Another astronomy year is upon us.

As you know, we’re the largest Astronomical Society in the North East.

In considering this, we would like your help to steer the direction of our society going forward for the benefits of our members both current and future.

The first aspect of this direction of travel for the society is to canvass your opinion.
To do this we have designed a short online survey ( 9 questions – using surveymonkey) and we invite you complete this survey asap and add your voice to your society’s progression.

This is your opportunity to offer opinion and suggestions to progress your society.

Each SAS member will be sent an email survey invitation to their membership email address with a link to take survey.

This email will be sent out to all members very shortly, with associated text alert reminders.

The survey will close 29th September, to allow for analysis of results.

SAS Talk/Lectures 2017- 2018: Now all year round

SAS Members,

You will be pleased to know that as our SAS talk/lectures are so awesome and so well attended that SAS has decided is extending the talk series from  September through to the following August each year.

As always the talks will posted periodically in the SAS Society News and SAS Events Calendar. 

And a snapshot of the complete talks this season can be found here and on  the SAS Events Calendar (under lectures section).

Please support and attend these talks/lectures if you can.

At these events all raffle fundraising goes directly towards our society’s Washington Wetlands Centre ground rent costs.

17th September Lecture: When Gateshead Ruled the World: The Curious story of the Newall Telescope

In the 1870’s Gateshead was one of the world’s most famed astronomical destinations.

The reason was the 25inch telescope, the largest refractor in the world (at that time), owned and run by the wealthy Scottish engineer and amateur astronomer Robert Stirling Newall  FRS FRAS on his estate located next to the present day Saltwell Park.

Newall’s telescope was a magnet to the most famous astronomers, scientists and artists of the day.

This presentation by our SAS President Dave Newton tells the curious history of the telescope and some of the characters associated with it.

15th October Lecture: The lost art of Visual Astronomy

With everyone wanting to get into astrophotography these days, visual astronomy is becoming the poor relation.

Chris Duffy’s talk provides hints and tips to get the most out of whichever telescope you have, or what to get if you are yet to buy one, depending on the type of astronomy you want to do.

Setting expectations of what you will see at the eyepiece and how to find your way around the sky.

19th November Lecture: Grubb Parsons: The first (A gift of stars) – When Geordies reached for the stars

David Kidds’ talk will outline the early history of Grubb Parsons (international telescope manufacturer, based in Heaton Newcastle upon Tyne).

David will be outlining Grubb-Parsons early history leading to the 74” Reflectors.

David’s talk, ‘A Gift of Stars’, will tell the story of how Grubb Parsons came to be in Newcastle and will, in particular, focus on (no pun intended!) the firm’s first big reflector, the 74 inch David Dunlap telescope.

19th 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 19th August 2017,
• 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.