The guest speaker at the December society meeting was Mr Philip Barker from neighbours, Bradford Astronomical society. Mr Barker explained that as a child he was trilled and excited to see the first Moon landing of Apollo 11. It was this that propelled his interest in astronomy, astro-photography and space exploration. Mr Barker gave a detailed...
Read MoreLeviathan The telescope that Shipley and Heaton bought
The guest speaker at the November meeting of Keighley Astronomical society was Mr Derek Barker from Bradford University of the 3rd Age. His talk was titled Leviathan The telescope that Shipley and Heaton bought (The 3rd Earl of Rosse and the Great telescope at Birr) Mr barker commenced his presentation with a short history of the field family of...
Read MoreThe December night sky
To end 2021 there is a parade of planets after sunset and an impressive display of shooting stars, as well as the brilliant winter constellations. The Plough is now standing on its handle in the north. Capella, the bright yellow star, is not yet at the overhead point but it is very high up and cannot be missed. The twins of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, are...
Read More‘Art and Astronomy’
The guest speaker at the October meeting of Keighley Astronomical Society was Mr Peter Reynolds from neighbouring Bradford Astronomical Society. Mr Reynolds opened his presentation with favourite painting of his. A Philosopher Giving that Lecture on an Orrery, in which a Lamp is put in the centre in the Place of the Sun The artist Joseph Wright first...
Read MoreThe November Night sky
The Milky Way rises overhead on these dark November nights, providing a stunning inside perspective on the huge Galaxy that is our home in the cosmos. After your eyes have adjusted to the dark you should be able to see that it’s spangled with fuzzy glowing diadems. Better still, sweep the band of the Milky Way with binoculars or a small telescope, and...
Read MoreThe October night sky
The glories of October’s night sky can at best be described as ‘Subtle’. The dull autumn constellations are already being challenged by the brilliant lights of winter. Spearheaded by the beautiful star cluster of the Pleiades. Ursa Major, or the Plough, is to all intents and purposes at its lowest in the North. The ‘W’ of Cassiopeia is not far...
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