As
arrangements for the meeting progress the details will appear on this web page.
Last updated 31st May 2007
OBJECTIVE
Provide an opportunity for
existing section members to meet and share expertise and to welcome new members
to the section. Presentations will be mostly of a practical nature with, where
relevant, examples of pro-am cooperation. All are most welcome to attend
whatever your level of expertise or interest.
VENUE
The meeting
will be hosted by Newbury Astronomical Society
(who have already given considerable assistance by establishing a venue and
taking responsibility for catering and technical support) and will be held in
the Saint Frances de Sales Parish Church Hall,
Maps of the
venue, directions and images of the location can be found below.
CONTACT INFO
Tel; 023
92647986
Mobile (day
of meeting only); 0776 9574386
Email; roger.dymock@ntlworld.com
Address; 67
Haslar Crescent, Waterlooville,
PROGRAMME
As you can
see from the schedule below it will be quite a busy day. Please help out by
being in the right place at the right time !!!
|
Schedule |
Item |
Speaker |
|
10:00
10:30 |
Registration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10:30
10:45 |
Welcome |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10:45
11:15 |
An Outer Solar System High Ecliptic Latitude
Survey |
|
|
11:15
12:15 |
Lightcurves and Binary Asteroids |
Dr Alan
Harris |
|
|
|
|
|
12:15
13:15 |
Lunch |
|
|
13:15
13:30 |
Speaker and Group photographs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
13:30
14:15 |
Occultation Timing Techniques Update |
|
|
|
Aspects of Asteroid Photometry: Observing
campaigns |
Dr |
|
|
Catalogues for asteroid photometry facts
and myth |
Dr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Break |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The asteroid impact risk reviewed: has it
been greatly overestimated ? |
Dr |
|
|
Tracking Near Earth Objects |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion |
|
AUDIO-VISUAL
A PC,
projector and screen will be available, courtesy of Newbury AS, or speakers may
of course bring their own equipment.
ABSTRACTS
Edgeworth Kuiper Belt Objects (EKBOs) orbit beyond Neptune and
offer important clues about the formation of our solar system. Far from
resembling an accretion disk leftover, the discovery of some
EKBOs with inclinations as high as 40 degrees demonstrates that the full
latitudinal extent of the EK belt must be large. Ascertaining the true extent of the
transneptunian objects (TNO) inclination distribution is
important for planning TNO surveys. It is vital for determining the total number
of TNOs and the past and present mass contained in the
EKB. It will also provide
data that may confirm or alter our understanding of solar system formation.
Past surveys of TNOs are probably a poor representation of the
true distribution of EKBO inclinations because most were found in surveys
centred on the ecliptic.
Such surveys were biased towards finding low inclination objects which
spend the majority of their orbit close to the
ecliptic.
A 0.9 metre telescope at Kingsland Observatory, County
Roscommon, Ireland is carrying out a two year statistical survey by imaging a
range
of ecliptic latitudes that are equidistant from each other and
measuring the density of EKBOs found at each latitude. Imaging sets of fields
spaced uniformly North of the ecliptic will also determine the
resonance structure imposed on the belt by the gravitational effects of
Neptune.
At each longitude, fields at several ecliptic latitudes will map
the inclination distribution of the belt, testing competing theories for the
formation and orbital evolution of the giant planets.
The survey also includes a search for a hypothetical ninth
planet beyond the EKB as a follow up survey of some 'suspected planets'. The follow
up survey this year will attempt to detect whether or not this planet exists based on the targets
located by prior research.
'This presentation briefly covers the basic techniques of
observing, timing, and recording planetary, (+dwarf planetary!), asteroid, and
planetary satellite occultations. It
then discusses the "New Order" in equipment and techniques available
to the modern well-equipped amateur.
These include telescopes, 'impersonal' timing and recording equipment,
accurate time sources, site coordinates, predictions, reduction software,
mobile observing, and collaboration in European and worldwide pro-am networks
via the internet.'
Dr Alan Harris Lightcurves and binary asteroids
Only slightly more than a decade after the discovery of the
first asteroid binary, we have now discovered more than 100 of them, by a
variety of techniques. Over the same
period of time, the number of asteroid with known rotation properties has more
than tripled. This has been largely due
to the advent of robotic CCD telescope systems, many of them owned by amateur
astronomers. Not only have these
observers taken the lead in lightcurve observing, they are now the leading mode
of discovery of binary asteroids, through lightcurve observations of
eclipses. This explosion in data has
gone hand in hand with theoretical work on radiation pressure alteration of
asteroid spins (YORP effect) to revolutionize our picture of the physical state
and evolution of the small bodies in the solar system.
The "Photometric Survey for Asynchronous Binary
Asteroids" is a collaborative effort between professional and amateur
observers, led by Petr Pravec of Ondrejov Observatory, Czech Republic. We have completed the first phase of the
project, a carefully controlled survey of 200 small asteroids to determine the
fraction that are binary and correct for discovery selection effects. The next phase, ongoing, is to re-observe
confirmed or suspected binaries at further apparitions to determine
pole/orbit orientations of binaries and look for eclipse events
at other geometries than previously observed.
Further details, along with a listing of participating observers, can be
found at http://www.asu.cas.cz/~asteroid/binastphotsurvey.htm.
Dr
Amateurs equipped with CCD cameras can help push back the
scientific frontiers in asteroid research.
To do this effectively requires them to unite with others or at the very
least coordinate their observations with those of others. This talk recalls how observing campaigns
have developed over the years and sets out the various options now open to
interested observers. BAA activities are
highlighted and future observing campaigns are mooted based on the data in the
2007 and 2008 BAA Handbooks.
REGISTRATION
Registration is now open. Please advise the Section Director
by email or post of your intention to attend.
Information
required;
Name
Email or
postal address (whichever is the preferred method of contact)
Telephone
number
Any
specific requirements
FEES
A fee of
£10 will be charged (payable on the day) which will cover the cost of lunch and
refreshments.
CATERING
Tea, coffee
and soft drinks will be available during registration, lunch and the
mid-afternoon break.
A buffet lunch
will include: quiche, cheese, ham, salad, fruit, bread and spreads and will be
served at the rear of the main hall
SALES
The Section
has a number of books (inherited from the previous director) which are surplus
to requirements. These will be offered for sale at the meeting.
The British
Astronomical Association and the CfDS will also be represented.
ATTENDEES
|
Number |
Name |
Role |
|
1 |
|
Organiser |
|
2 |
Jean
Dymock |
Registration |
|
3 |
Ann
Davies |
Catering |
|
4 |
Monika Balstone |
Catering |
|
5 |
David
Boyd |
Technical
support |
|
6 |
Hazel
McGee |
Photographer |
|
7 |
Bob Mizon |
CfDS |
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
Dr Alan
Harris |
Speaker |
|
9 |
Dr |
Speaker |
|
10 |
|
Speaker |
|
11 |
|
Speaker |
|
12 |
|
Speaker |
|
13 |
|
Speaker |
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
George
Faillace |
Attendee |
|
15 |
|
Attendee |
|
16 |
John
Fletcher |
Attendee |
|
17 |
Bob
Neville |
Attendee |
|
18 |
Derek
Harris |
Attendee |
|
19 |
Heather Harris |
Attendee |
|
20 |
Simon
Street |
Attendee |
|
21 |
Christopher
Woodcock |
Attendee |
|
22 |
Kevin
Hills |
Attendee |
|
23 |
David
Briggs |
Attendee |
|
24 |
|
Attendee |
|
25 |
Peter
Stanley |
Attendee |
|
26 |
Peter
Marsh |
Attendee |
|
27 |
|
Attendee |
|
28 |
Terry
Larkin |
Attendee |
|
29 |
Kim
Catrell |
Attendee |
|
30 |
Derek
Hatch |
Attendee |
|
31 |
Val
Stoneham |
Attendee |
|
32 |
John
Balstone |
Attendee |
|
33 |
|
Attendee |
|
34 |
Michael
Scott |
Attendee |
|
35 |
Jay Tate |
Attendee |
|
36 |
Guy Hurst |
Attendee |
|
37 |
Martin
Morgan-Taylor |
Attendee |
|
38 |
David
Arditti |
Attendee |
MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
Maps
obtained from Multimap.com
The venue
is just over 1Ό miles from the A343 junction with the A34, heading towards
Newbury, and approximately 1.5 miles from the town station. The A343 junction
is approximately 1Ό miles north of the Tothill service area on the A34.
VENUE
The St Frances de Sales Parish
Church Hall has ample car parking space and a pleasant grassed area for taking
lunch and refreshments (assuming the weather is kind that is).
The images below will help you find
your way to the venue.
Warren Rd is opposite this church
on the A343.
Warren Rd (on the right) as seen
when driving along the A343 from the A34. Sign post near road name points to
Catholic Church.
Warren Rd (on the left) as seen
when driving along the A343 from Newbury town centre.
View along Warren Rd do not take the first turn on the right
shown here.
View along Warren Rd showing second
turn on right turn right here.
After turning off Warren Rd you
will be on the road shown above. Follow this into the car park shown middle
left.
View of St Frances de Sales Parish
Church Hall from the car park. Please enter via the double doors to left of
centre.