CMHASD supporting the BAA at New Scientist Live – ExCel London, October 2024
4th January 2025
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Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford (CMHASD) were out in force at the recent New Scientist Live event at ExCel Centre, London Docklands on the 12th to 14th October 2024. We were there to help the British Astronomical Association (BAA) on their stand over the 3 days to promote the BAA.CMHASD Member Diane Clarke who helped over the 3 days wrote ”Over the 3 days of New Scientist Live, held at ExCel London from the 12th – 14th of October 2024 several members of the society along with other members of the BAA were on hand to help promote the BAA and answer questions from members of the public, school children and teachers alike on all things astronomical. Again, the 3D printed & hand painted scale models of Mars, Jupiter and M51, proved very popular with everyone who visited the stand, as did the Muon detectors that the BAA’s Radio Astronomy section brought along. All of these proved great talking points enabling us to make several sales as well as promoting membership of the BAA. The BAA’s Moon maps were as ever the most popular seller.Mars & Jupiter were also viewed through the CMHASD Dobsonian telescopes called Issac and Tinie. The 3D model of Jupiter was so popular that another exhibitor used it to demonstrate the telescopes they were offering for sale!This was the BAA’s 7th in person New Scientist Live which this year saw 26,182 visitors pass through its doors.All in all, everybody who staffed the stand enjoyed the experience. Over the 3 days their enthusiasm & knowledge radiated to everybody that visited the stand hopefully resulting in future new members of the BAA.With regard to the effort that everybody put into this year’s New Scientist Live 2024, the BAA’s new President Janice McClean said – “It takes a whole team to make it and in my humble opinion I think this was an absolute top team effort”. CMHASD Members Diane Clarke, Steve Floodgate, David Grist, Debra Holton & Janice McClean were part of the team.”
