January 15th

OBSERVING EVENING

This will be at the Society's now usual site in Barnet

Click HERE for map and details

February 26th

Michael Franks

ALAN TURING : THE ENIGMA

With the success of the British film, The Imitation Game, exploring the life and times of Alan Turing, (starring Benedict Cumberbatch), Michael Franks takes an in-depth look at this most - appropriately - enigmatic of scientists.

He will also be looking at Turing’s love of puzzles, in itself one of the unofficial requirements for the Code Breakers, and how this led to him be one of the major ‘cogs in the wheel’ of the work done during the War. Michael will also be explaining how it all works, using a paper model of the Enigma Machine. There is also an Enigma link to one of Michael’s other passions - a geocache based on Enigma codes.

This will be followed by a round-up of the Moon and planet conjunctions over the last few days.

March 19th

Jim Webb & Alister Innes

OBSERVING EVENING

One day before the New Moon, so we hope for clear dark skies (well as dark as they will ever be in the London area!!!). It is also one day before the Total Solar Eclipse, that will be a 90% and more partial over the British Isles. So besides our night-time viewing, a few pointers for safe viewing the following day

Click HERE for the OBSERVING page, with map and details.

April 16th

Mat Irvine

MARCH 20 : REDUX

The date saw two events - the last day of this year's Stargazing Live, and the only day for this year's Solar Eclipse. Your Editor was there for both (OK he accepts anyone could be there for the latter - assuming a clear sky), so behind the scenes on SGL5 and what could have been seen of the Eclipse.

POSTPONED DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND YOUR EDITOR'S CONTROL

May 21st

Jim Webb

MESSENGER R.I.P.

The NASA space probe MESSENGER's survey of the Solar System's smallest planet, Mercury, came to an abrupt end on 30th April, when it was deliberately crashed into the planet's surface. Much has been learned of this mysterious world over this four-year mission, so time for a re-cap. Chairman Jim Webb will be taking us through what MESSSENGER has discovered.

June 18th

Mat Irvine

ONCE UPON A TIME
or
exploring The House on the Rock

This fully illustrated talk is about a place that fulfils the 'fantastical' element in any of the ASH's admittedly very wide range of interests. Situated in deepest Wisconsin, it's about one of the strangest of places you are ever likely to visit!
It's like a bizarre combination of all the wackiest museums you'll ever encounter - all in the world of Alice in Wonderland!

June 29th MONDAY

Alister Innes &
Kyri Voskou

July and August

No meetings these months

September 17th

Jerry Stone

THE RACE INTO SPACE

In 1971 the Brooke Bond Tea Company added to its famous Picture Card sets with one titled 'The Race into Space'. This, in its standard 50 card set, chronicled the Space Age from the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 to what could possibly occur with a Mission to Mars in - at that time - the future of the 1980s!!
Jerry has taken the images in the cards and developed them into this his latest intriguing talk; certainly one with a difference.

October 8th

Michael Franks

WHO OWNS THE MOON?

Who indeed does own the Moon - assuming anyone? Originally with only nations sending craft and astronauts - to the Moon, this was perhaps purely an academic question. But now with the increasing interest from private companies in returning to the Moon, they would naturally want to maximise their investment. Consequently the legal situation of the potential valuable pickings, especially from its mineral content, is going to be an interesting question?

With Michael being a solicitor and therefore having expertise in legal matters, this is an ideal subject for him.

The Meeting will also include the AGM

November 19th

Mat Irvine

This enigmatic title reflects the odd situation of a certain small town in New Mexico, USA that boasts a museum celebrating the life and times of a pioneer rocket engineer at one end of the high street, and, at the other, a more flamboyant exhibit in a converted cinema, that records the possibility of another event that supposedly occurred in the area, in 1947. More to be revealed during this fully illustrated talk, including the name of that New Mexican town - in case you haven't already worked it out...!
(It, er, begins with 'R')