Programme

Tonight

Dr Allan Chapman FRAS, Oxford  RECORDED

will be giving us the first of his two annual talks

Magnetic Astronomers: Invisible energy from space, from William Gilbert to the ‘Pillars of Creation’

the usual joining procedure applies for those members unable to attend in person

In the pre dawn sky of Saturday the 9th of December above the SE – S horizon

a 14% illuminated waning crescent Moon will be 5° from the planet Venus

this event would be best viewed from 05.45 hrs – 07.45 hrs

as sunrise from approx 07.42 hrs will make Venus difficult to view

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

as the sun will be in the sky while this event is taking place please remember your solar safety :-

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT THE CORRECT SOLAR FILTER FITTED TO YOUR EQUIPMENT

OR SOLAR SAFETY GLASSES FOR YOUR EYES

On the morning of Saturday the 9th of December above the  SE – SW horizon

a lunar libration will offer favourable views of the Mare Orientale

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

as the sun will be in the sky while this event is taking place please remember your solar safety :-

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT THE CORRECT SOLAR FILTER FITTED TO YOUR EQUIPMENT

OR SOLAR SAFETY GLASSES FOR YOUR EYES

On the evening of Tuesday the 12th of December above the SE – S horizon

the planet Jupiter will occult (pass in front of) it’s largest Moon Ganymede

this occultation will occur from approx 20.00 hrs – 22.00 hrs

Ganymede will be to the top right of Jupiter as the occultation starts

and will reappear top left as the occultation comes to an end

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

At approx 15.50 hrs along the SW horizon on Wednesday the 13th of December

the Sun will set making this the earliest sunset of the year

Above the NE – E horizon from approx 19.00 hrs on Thursday the 14th of December

the Geminid Meteor Shower reaches it’s peak with a predicted ZHR of 130

although this shower peaks tonight :-

due to it’s location in the sky viewings on the 13/14 & 14/15 of December could also prove favourable

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

Tooknight the Society is pound to pressent

Through the afternoon into the evening of Saturday the 16th of December

above the NE – SE horizon form approx 14.00 hrs – 19.15 hrs

the shadow of Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede will  transit across the planets disc from approx 14.00 hrs – 16.00 hrs

Jupiter’s Moon Europa will also be in transit with it’s shadow transiting across the planets disc from approx 16.40 hrs – 19.15 hrs

if you plan to observe / image these events remember to dress for the conditions

as the sun will be in the sky while one of these events is taking place please remember your solar safety :-

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT THE CORRECT SOLAR FILTER FITTED TO YOUR EQUIPMENT

OR SOLAR SAFETY GLASSES FOR YOUR EYES

In the early evening of Sunday the 17th of December @ 19.30 hrs

above the SW horizon the Moon will be 4.3° below the planet Saturn

please note both bodies will be setting below the horizon by approx 20.30 hrs

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

Over the night of Tuesday the 19th into the morning of Wednesday the 20th of December

above the SW – W horizon from 23.34 hrs on the 19th to 01.17 hrs on the 20th

Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede will again be occulted by the planet

Ganymede will again be to the top right of Jupiter as the occultation starts

and will again reappear top left as the occultation comes to an end

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions