Next year is the International Year of Astronomy ”(IYA”), and astronomical societies – and people like myself with an interest in astronomy and space – will be organising a huge number of events to mark it.
Most towns and cities now have an astronomical society, and many schools, colleges and universities have their own group or club too, so wherever you live you can be absolutely sure that there’ll be SOMETHING going on near you next year at some point!
Here in Kendal the plan is to hold at least – at least – one IYA event each month of the year, and hopefully a lot more than that. I’ll be organising lectures at various venues around the town, and public observing events too, where people can come along and, for free, use telescopes and other astronomical equipment to see something amazing in the sky.
All of these events will be held on either a Friday or Saturday night, to make sure that families and kids can come along and enjoy them without worrying about school the next day.
Here’s the provisional plan for IYA 2009 events in Kendal. This page, and these details, will be changed as the year takes shape, so please keep checking back here often…
Please note: these are not formal Eddington AS events. I’m organising these events as part of my ongoing Outreach efforts, but hopefully there’ll be other members of Eddington AS present at some of the events – depending on their own commitments – to help answer people’s questions and show more things in the night sky :-)
JANUARY
Friday 23rd
Public observing evening: “Skywatch”
Venue: “The Helm”, overlooking Oxcenholme
How to get there: Proceed on A65 out of Kendal, passing Asda on the left and on up the hill, passing the Westmorland General Hospital on the left and a filling station also on the left (still on the A65). After the filling station, look for speed de-restriction signs. The turning into the Helm road is on the left, approx 100 yds or so after the de-restriction signs. You will need to look carefully for this turnoff, but it is the only turning just there so there’s little possibility of a mix-up. The viewing site is approx 0.4 miles along the Helm road. (Please click on the image below to see exactly where this event is being held – indicated by the yellow pin)
A chance to see the planet Venus – and later in the evening, Saturn too! – through telescopes, and learn how and where to find some of the constellations too. 7pm start. WEATHER PERMITTING.
FEBRUARY
Saturday 21st
“VENUS WATCH”
Venue: Abbot Hall Park
Time: 6pm onwards
Come along to Abbot Hall Park in Kendal and see the planet Venus through a telescope, and learn all about Earth’s “Twisted Sister” planet…
MARCH
Friday 6th
“SATURN WATCH”
Venue: Bowling Fell Park, Kendal.
Time: 7pm onwards
Come along to Bowling Fell Park in Kendal and see the “ringed planet” Saturn through a telescope. Later this year we will actually see the planet’s famous icy rings ‘vanish’ as they tip over until they’re edge-on, so come along and see them while you can! 7pm start. WEATHER PERMITTING.
APRIL
Friday 3rd
“SPRING MOONWATCH”
UPDATE: This event was a HUGE success! For a full report, go here…
Venue: The Garden, The Brewery Arts Centre.
Come along to our special “Spring Moonwatch” and enjoy stunning views of the Moon, its mountains, craters and valleys through high-powered telescopes. 7.30pm start. WEATHER PERMITTING.
Friday 24th April
“MERCURY WATCH”
Venue: Kendal Castle
Time: 8.30pm onwards
Come along to Kendal Castle and see the elusive planet Mercury shining above Kendal before looking at it through a telescope. You’ll learn all about this elusive “Winged Messenger World” that plays hide and seek with us throughout the year…
MAY
Friday 22nd
Lecture: “The Eddington Lecture – A Tour Of The Universe“
Venue: Friends Meeting House, Kendal
Time: 6.30pm onwards
Come along to the famous Friends Meeting House in Kendal for a very special illustrated lecture by EAS Secretary and local science writer Stuart Atkinson. Before the lecture begins there’ll be a chance to look around the Quaker Tapestry exhibition and learn all about the life of Kendal’s “Forgotten Famous Son” Sir Arthur Eddington, an astronomer who revolutionised science’s understanding of how stars work who is featured on the Tapestry.
JUNE
Friday June 26th
LECTURE: “VISIONS OF MARS”
Venue: Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
Tickets: £3 adult, £1.50 under 16s
Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm
JULY
Friday 17th
Lecture: “Apollo – 40 Years Later…”
Venue: Kendal Library
Time: 7pm onwards
Come along to Kendal Library for an illustrated family lecture all about the Moon. This July is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, so we’ll look back at the triumph of the Apollo missions and look ahead to how, and when, NASA is planning to Go Back To The Moon…
AUGUST
Saturday 22nd
“SUN WATCH”
Venue: Abbot Hall Park
Time: 2pm onwards
Come along to Abbot Hall Park in Kendal and see the the Sun as you’ve never seen it before - through a telescope! Usually you’d never dream of looking at the Sun through a telescope, but don’t worry, I’ll be using a special projection technique to show you the Sun in perfect safety. So come along for a close look at our nearest star! WEATHER PERMITTING.
SEPTEMBER
Monday 7th
Eddington Astronomical Society “Beginners Night”
Venue: Kendal Museum
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Come along to the September meeting of Kendal’s Eddington Astronomical Society, which will be a very special “Beginner’s Night” where people can learn all about the fascinating hobby of amateur astronomy – how (and WHEN) to buy a telescope, which books and computer software to use, how to tell stars and planets apart. It will be the perfect introduction to the night sky. everyone welcome!
OCTOBER
Friday 16th: “JUPITER WATCH”
Venue: Abbot Hall Park
Time: 7pm onwards
Come along and see the planet Jupiter – and many of its family of 63 moons! – through a telescope….
Tuesday 27th: IYA 2009 “MOON WATCH”
Venue: Abbot Hall Park, Kendal
Time: 7pm onwards
Come and see beautiful views of the Moon through telescopes! See the Moon’s towering mountains, deep craters and frozen lava seas!
NOVEMBER
Monday 2nd: Eddington AS Meeting
Venue: Kendal Museum
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Saturday 20th: Lecture: “THE EARTH”
Venue: Staveley Roundhouse Theatre
Time: to be confirmed
Come along to a very special illustrated family lecture all about our own planet…
Wednesday 25th: Lecture – “HUBBLE’S GREATEST HITS”
Venue: Kendal Museum
Time: 7pm onwards
Come to Kendal Museum for a very special presentation, featuring the very best and most beautiful pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Friday 27th: IYA 2009 “AUTUMN MOON WATCH”
Venue: Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
Time: 7pm onwards
Come along to and see the Moon – with its craters, mountains and valleys – through a telescope. Jupiter will be shining close to it in the sky, too, so if you come along we’ll also show you the planet and some of its family of 63 moons!
DECEMBER
Friday 18th
Lecture: “Mars Comes Close“
Venue: to be confirmed
Time: to be confirmed
Come along to a very special family lecture which will introduce you to the wonders and beauty of the planet Mars, which will be coming close to Earth at the end of 2009…
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