Events around Scotland

ASTRA (Airdrie)

17th August: Mars UK, Day trip to the Planetary Society's Mars Display in Birmingham Central Library
22nd August 8.30pm(meeting starts at 7.30pm) at Airdrie Arts Centre, Anderston Street, Airdrie:Talk by Duncan Lunan (science writer)"Manned Mars Missions, Past & Future Plans
22nd-24th August:Participating in Scottish Rocket Weekend, Kelburn Country Park, by Largs, Ayrshire, with observing (weather permitting)
23rd-30th August at Airdrie Public Observatory, Airdrie Library, Wellwynd: Observing nights including Mars watch (weather permitting)
28th August 7.30-9pm at Arches Theatre, Argyle Street, Glasgow: Joint event with Glasgow Visual Arts Forum, panel discussion "Art and Science - Allies or Adversaries?" Chaired by Duncan Lunan with speakers; artists, Ken Palmer, Gary Bonn & Ed Buckley; optics and electronics experts John Braithwaite (Braithwaite telescopes), 'Nij' Johnson; plus Colin Sanderson (COPUS), Denna Jones (Wellcome Trust SciArt)
29th August 8.30pm (meeting starts at 7.30pm) at Airdrie Arts Centre, Anderston St., Airdrie:Talk by Ed Buckley ASTRA past president "Mars"
 

FEEDBACK: ASTRA's events went well with the lecture programme drawing good audiences. Airdrie Observatory also drew in many visitors, especially on clear nights when Mars was shown to large numbers of people. They are still looking forward to their all day Mars event (see below).

6th September 10am-4pm, at Airdrie Arts Centre: All day Mars event, joint event with the Mars Society UK (Scotland). Speakers Duncan Lunan, Bo Maxwell (Mars society UK), Chris O'Kane, Andrew Nimmo. Plus more to be announced

CONTACT DUNCAN LUNAN (0141 2217658

Astronomical Society of Edinburgh

Throughout the week at the observatory, Calton Hill : Exhibition on Mars  with observing (weather permitting).

During the week 9.30pm onwards at the Wallacestone Monument car park, Wallecestone near Falkirk: Public observing sessions (weather permitting)

FEEDBACK: A good week with 6 out of 8 nights when viewing was possible. About 350 people turned up over the week and even 25 arrived to view in 100% cloud, hoping that it might clear. Many celestial objects were viewed along with Mars through the 6 telescopes and binoculars.

Glasgow Science Centre In the Scottish Power Space Theatre:

From mid-July onwards: a daily Mars Planetarium Show entitled "Mars in the sky."

28th August: An evening lecture and planetarium show entitled "The Pharoah, The Stars and the Planet Mars" by Chris O'Kane.

FEEDBACK: The planetarium show has proved very popular. The evening lecture was a "spellbinding" success with this comment from one of the members of the audience

" ..absolutely fascinating and beautifully presented - just enough to whet the appetite!." Everyone was encouraged to look for Mars after the lecture.

Highlands Astronomical Society (Inverness)

23rd August 11am to 3.30pm at the Spectrum Centre, Inverness: Telescopes on view plus video/DVD and other information about Mars.
23rd-30th August 10pm to midnight at Culloden Battlefield car park: Public observing (weather permitting)

FEEDBACK: Although the open day was not well attended the observing evenings were really busy with visitors turning up even on cloudy nights. An unheard of 4 out of 8 clear viewing nights made the week very successful. "... the oohs and aahs when people see things through a telescope for the first time, makes the late nights worth while and it's nice to share our interest."
 

SIGMA (Moray's Astronomy Club)

29th August 9pm onwards: public observing session at Mosstowie Primary School, Miltonduff, Nr Elgin, Moray.

FEEDBACK: Thanks to Frances Wardhaugh, head teacher at Mosstowie Primary school, Sigma was able to hold a public viewing session on the 29th. Mars emerged from the cloud at about 10.15pm to a loud roar from at least 80 adults and a host of youngsters. It remained visible long enough for everyone to view through the telescopes. Even though atmospheric turbulence obscured the  surface markings, the polar cap was visible. Other celestial objects were viewed when Mars was hidden by cloud. "The wows and whoops of delight were a joy to hear" as the views through the telescopes amazed and thrilled people of all ages. SIGMA has gained about 20 potential new members. In spite of the weather the event was voted a great success, hopefully the first of many observing sessions open to the public.

Wigtownshire Astronomical Society

23rd to 30th August in Newton Stewart library: a display  entitled "Wonders of Astronomy", with special emphasis on Mars. 

29th August: an evening of fact, fiction and poetry followed by a star party.

For further details email: Helen Macdonald