News Letter #10

High time I thought (whilst waiting to see if the clouds clear at the observatory) for the first newsletter of the academic year.

The Summer saw a mix of weather, problems with the drive system, no Perseids, the deterioration of the track up to the observatory and the demise of Pluto as a Planet on 24th August.

At last the full Summer School courses had Sun to view..all week. The temperature in the Dome did not drop below 30o and we could not have survived without the water dispenser. The fact that there was only one sunspot (number 901) did not impede progress and there was plenty of solar prominence activity to view in the Hydrogen-alpha filter. The lecture ‘Wonders in the sky’ was well attended. However August was wet and cloudy and no Perseids metiers were seen from here and the Dome was out of action for longer than I can remember. The fluctuating temperatures took their toll of the hardware and leaking lubricant and breaking drive belts made for plenty of maintenance.

The September term started with few clear nights and the planned start of the Friends Diary saw both clouded out. The partial Lunar eclipse on 7th September was caught at the end by a small group. The anniversary drinks however, though cold enough to take place inside at least was dry, and 50 or so Friends attended.

The Shell visits have now started and GCSE astronomers await a second clear night of the term. Lectures at Prep schools and visits from local schools remain in high demand and Farleigh, Summer Fields and Ramsbury have so far been fitted in.

The forecasts as far as Moon interference for the next few meteor showers is good, see the Diary for dates. Sadly, though it will be well publicized in the press the next (and last for 50 years or so) Mercury transit on 8th November will not be visible from here (how lucky some of us were to see it on such a clear morning in 2003)

The next main event is the second Blackett Science lecture (launched last year by professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell) this years talk is very well reviewed and has travelled widely in the UK titled 'Supertrings' it is given by Professor Brian Foster (Head of Particle Physics at Oxford University) jointly with a professional international standing violinist Jack Liebeck. The lecture is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th Decemeber in the Ellis Theatre. I would be grateful if anyone intending to come could let me know by email. There are no reserved seats and pupils from the College will be attending.

There have been delays to instigating the back up material for the observational list on the website, apologies. The website has however risen to great popularity and since April has been accessed some 65000 time from 70 countries, averaging 200 hits for each of the 24 hours in the day!

All comments most welcome and as ever do ring 07792311371 if you wish to check my availability. Any queries or suggestions please email me at ceb@marlboroughcollege.org.