As you will all be aware this is the
first newsletter of 2003. In a slight change to previous
years I will not be putting the month of publication
at the top of each one, but will put an issue number
instead. Hence this Newsletter is 2003 Issue 1. I have
decided on the alteration due to the change in the date
of the monthly meeting this means the newsletter will
normally now be produced at least one week later that
previously. I hope that this will prevent problems when
members have thought that a newsletter was missing.
On a personal note, if any member has an item of interest
that they would like to see in the newsletter please
contact me with details. This can be an article that
you have written, an advert, or just a snippet of information,
for example on recent observations. Is there anything
you would like to see added to the newsletter? If so,
please let me know and I will endeavour to find some
information and put it in.
I can be contacted
by:
Post: 16 West Rise Tonbridge Kent TN9 2PG
Email: pbamblett@hotmail.com
Telephone: 01892 368656
Summary of meeting held on 15th.
January 2003
As the scheduled speaker was unable
to attend the Chairman Murray Barber gave a presentation
in his portable planetarium. After we had crawled through
the tunnel entrance Murray started his presentation
with demonstrations of the sky in Egyptian and Greek
times, the constellations being delineated with appropriate
classical Greek and Egyptian figures. He then demonstrated
the effects of precession, outlined the ecliptic, and
demonstrated the use of Right Ascension and and Declination
to determine the positions of celestial objects. In
a short summary it is difficult to emphasise how clearly
Murray achieved these objectives, but in your reviewers
opinion it was first class. After the usual coffee break
we returned once again to the planetarium, this time
to explore the sky as it is today, with the modern constellation
delineated both with and without the zodiacal figures.
This was followed by a review of the sky as seen both
from the poles and the equator. The meeting concluded
with a vote of thanks to Murray for such an excellent
presentation, particularly as it was done at short notice.
Bob Wharton
The next meeting of the society will be on Wednesday February 19 2003. As usual, the doors open at 7.15 and the meeting starts at 7.30 prompt. The speaker this month will be George Sallitt and he will be talking on the subject of "Web Cam Imaging".
The last observing session was held on 31 January 2003 and was therefore too early to be advertised in this Newsletter. The next observing session will be held on February 28 2003. As usual we will meet at the Crow & Gate in Crowborough at around 7.30 before moving onto the forest. It has also been pointed out that this session is a social event for the society, there will be observing if the weather is suitable but if not still come for a chat. For this reason, there will be at least one member of the committee in attendance whatever the weather. However, it should also be pointed out that the representative may not stay all evening if no one else turns up!
There are still a number of members who have not renewed their subscription to the society (£15 per member or £20 for joint members). This now means that those members are in arrears by 3 months. In order to avoid unnecessary costs the treasurer does not send reminders on an individual basis. Please remember it is your subscription that allows the society to continue with its activities. If you are one of the members who have yet to renew their subscription please send a cheque to the treasurer at: Broadwater Lodge, Stone Cross Road, Wadhurst, TN5 6LR. If you are in any doubt as to whether you have renewed I am sure the treasurer will gladly answer your queries if you contact him by telephone on 01892 784255.
Chairman: Murray R. Barber 01892 654618 murray.barber@virgin.net
Secretary: Ian King 01892 836288
Treasurer: Ian Reeves 01892 784255
Editor: Peter Bamblett 01732 368656 pbamblett@hotmail.com
Publicity & Web Site: Michael Harte 01892 783292 michael@greenman.demon.co.uk
Dir. of Obs.: Sean Tampsett 01892 667092 sean_tampsett@hotmail.com
Librarian: Joan Grace 01892 783721