News Letter #8

I thought it was time for the first newsletter of 2006. We have been dogged by poor weather over the usually busy January/February period. When it has been cold and still it has also been foggy or else the high winds have brought very unpredictable clear spells only. The Friends Tour of the Winter Sky was attended by a group of 9 despite falling snow! Panic was beginning to settle into the GCSE class in terms of completing course work observations; we were luckily saved by a near perfect night on Thursday 9th February, just before half-term. Nevertheless 63 external visitors have been up to the Dome on 15 separate occasions (7 of which were clear) including groups from primary schools, 3 prep school teachers, French exchange pupils, Swindon New College and Malmesbury Community Centre and of course 75 or so pupils in their first-year House groups.

We are now moving into Spring skies and lighter evenings, Jupiter is joining Saturn and Mars in the evening sky and we have been treated to some spectacular Iridium flares (for those who follow Whats up on the website). Just to advertise a few events:

Tuesday 14th March - Penumbral Lunar eclipse 9.30pm on (only a dimming of the Full Moon if clear) but nice to watch in advance of the Solar Eclipse

Sunday 19th March - 2006 Sun-Earth day lecture Eclipses in a different light 6.00pm in Ellis Theatre (no tickets required, but do let me know if (and how many of) you are coming)

Wednesday 22nd March - Spring Sky tour at Dome from 8.00pm (not 7pm as advertised)

Friday 24th March - Avebury Society lecture Ancient Observatories- Archaeoastronomy [for those that missed it in March last year], 8pm Devizes town hall (£5 tickets) contact Janet Polack 01672539253

Wednesday 29th March - Partial Solar eclipse (25%) Dome open from 10.30am

The website is continuing to change (this has caused occasional glitches) and is due for a facelift soon. Some areas are rather stationary but there are some new Links to investigate. Some of you have already seen the traffic light: The intention is that Red means the Observatory is closed, Orange that it is open but only to College staff and pupils (or for prearranged groups) and Green that it is open and Friends are welcome (Public events are advertised separately). As yet we have only Red or Green, so I apologise if it looks rather shut !

All comments are 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.

Charlie