VENUS: the 2010 E. Elongation

At the present time, as in 2002, 1994, 1986 and 1978 (etc.), Venus is
favourably placed for observing its gibbous disk with phase around 0.60.
Although the planet is only a few degrees away from greatest elongation,
its declination is just north of the celestial equator (as of 2010 late
July), and quickly decreasing, so that many observers will find the
planet too low to see above the treeline in the evening sky and daylight
observation may be called for. Finding the planet with setting circles,
the Director recently had several good views around mid-afternoon. If
possible, shield the telescope tube from the direct rays of the Sun as
otherwise tube currents will spoil the seeing conditions.

BAA Exhibition Meeting
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Saturday, 26 June 2010

The Exhibition Meeting website (URL below) has now been updated with a brief report and a selection of photographs. A video, produced by Bob Marriott, is also available for download: WMV format, 182 Mb, 29
minutes.

Lorraine Crook
Exhibition Meeting Organiser
http://www.britastro.org/exhibition/
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mobile : 07964759278

Please note that the BAA Office in Burlington House is closed for summer vacation from July 5th and will reopen on July 19th.

During this period no on-line orders, membership renewals, or membership applications will be processed. You can still place orders on-line and these will be processed as soon as the office reopens.

David Boyd
President

At Saturday's Exhibition Meeting, I had the pleasurable task of announcing two
awards which are being made this year by Council. The following notes are

drawn from the award citations.

A date for your diaries!

We are delighted to announce an inaugural meeting for the re-launched Historical Section.
Date:  Saturday November 27th 2010
Location:  The Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Rd, Cambridge.
Time:  10:30 - 18:00
Cost:  We'll make a nominal charge to cover buffet lunch and speaker expenses.

This is a call for speakers. We have a loose theme of "Twentieth-Century Astronomy" (talks so far offered are on Fred Hoyle, the Isaac Newton Telescope, and Mary Evershed, first director of the BAA Historical Section), but our intention is to showcase research done by BAA members, so we will consider talks on any subject.

More details at the Exhibition Meeting in Greenwich on Saturday June 26th.
Please come to visit us there!

Mike Frost - Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Lee Macdonald - Deputy Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .uk)

http://www.britastro.org/history

BAA Exhibition Meeting

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Saturday, 26 June 2010

The Exhibition Meeting website - http://www.britastro.org/exhibition/ - has
now been updated with final details. Exhibits and activities - occupying the
ground floor, first floor and two lecture theatres of Queen Anne Court -
include:

19 BAA exhibits
4 provincial societies
8 trade stands
2 live sessions using the robotic Faulkes Telescopes
Telescopes on the lawn
Rolling PowerPoint presentation of BAA work and activities
Ordinary Meeting, including the presentation of awards
Lecture by Dr Francisco Diego

The cafeteria (immediately adjacent to Queen Anne Court) will be serving
sandwiches, salads, soup, tea, coffee and soft drinks from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm.
The website also includes local maps, plus information on travel,
accommodation, and other events and facilities in Greenwich and its environs.
The Exhibition Meeting is open to everyone - members and non-members - free of
charge.

Lorraine Crook
Exhibition Meeting Organiser
http://www.britastro.org/exhibition/
E-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mobile : 07964759278