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There is also a previous forum post (also containing earlier reference) to the background in a TV programme
https://britastro.org/forums/topic/roy-panther-heir-hunters-catch-up-tvThe vacancies for the Officer posts have always seemed to be this way in my 30 years a member. Many societies have a VP (or two) with one ‘on the way up’ getting their feet under the table, destined to be P, and one immediate past P ‘on the way down’ able to help as needed. These may be ex officio but the individuals will have arranged the spare time and commitments accordingly. There is an advantage to having some continuity with the T role I think.
It is a sign of an active society that the candidate numbers for Council are greater than the number of positions available. So if an election is required for part of the board there will be no extra expense for the non-contested positions. Indeed there may be a legal requirement to show that there is a non-zero approval from the membership for each position.
I don’t feel that Buggins’ Turn is a healthy situation and, indeed, any member should feel able to stand for election to provide their input and views. However, and controversially, I feel that decades’ stints may deprive an organisation of fresh blood and new ideas. As far as I can see, each observing section is fairly active and some rotation in duties could be encouraged? (Though these aren’t elected positions anyway.)
Well done to Flamsteed AS and NMM in offering this prestigious and appropriate venue. How lucky that the BAA Comet Section secured the seats here!
Weather held out despite the forecast showers and humidity. Excellent range of topics and speakers with 30mins an ideal length. Bonus planetarium show!
I overheard several chats wondering if Greenwich could host again. It was lucky to avoid rail/TFL strikes which would otherwise have given travel issues.
Many thank to all the background organisation for a very enjoyable day. Look forward to clear, dark skies for comets, giant asteroids and meteor showers 🙂I think this originates from Mousehole after Tom Bawcock’s heroic solo fishing trip to feed the whole village.
I’ve now had some clear evenings in the past fortnight. I suspect tonight’s is my final view from Ramsgate. Will forward observations to Nick James.
Not much luck with clouds on the Kent coast but I can’t remember the last time when a *bright* comet was circumpolar (from UK). Must be unusual timing and orbital geometry. Hoping for a favourable break in weather over next few days before full moon!
I would have thought a late one given the narrow QUA peak , but need to track back to see proximity to radiant. With recordings from a wide swathe of England & Wales there should be good flight trajectory to be calculated.
BBC reports satellites were lost. Expensive and embarrassing 🙁
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64218883IMO flux graph is at https://meteorflux.org/rt#QUA
The is a flux graph at IMO
https://meteorflux.org/rt#GEMI saw post-occ at 0600 with small binocs through double glazed window. Mars not naked eye so close to Moon.
Very interesting. Though hasn’t Jean Meeus already done calculations like this? Or the BAA Computing Section?
The exhibition is at the Royal Albert Hall. Free entry.
Exhibition open days will be Thursday 29 September, Friday 7 October and Friday 21 October, 10am – 4pm.
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2022/apollo-remastered/Sad news. I remember often seeing him round the Cambridge telescopes on clear nights. Obit on IoA site:
https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/content/professor.roger.griffin.has.died.age.85Are any of the ‘Star Men’ left?
Also live stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEHcZE4qcDE
Clear view from Neuquén province, Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of PatagoniaAccording to BAA comet info (JDS) the comet was discovered on 2020 Mar 27 so we have just 4 months of observations out of 4200 or 6800 years.
I suspect the ‘increase’ in orbital period is simply due to a longer arc of observations which has revised the orbital elements rather than genuine non-gravitational effects around perihelion.
According to in-the-sky the inclination is 129deg so the comet will hardly encounter planets for perturbations. And with semi-major axis at 364AU it will very quickly be well away from the plane of the solar system, plus very hard to detect!
Playing with in-they-sky’s orbit diagram, perihelion was ‘superior’ (and for all ‘inner’ planets). The comet passes through descending node outside Mars approx Oct 2020 which is well away from all the planets’ positions. So it’s a gravitational orbit till next perihelion!
