BRINGING ASTRONOMY AND SPACE INTO YOUR HOME
A compilation of resources and events for bringing us together even in isolation
Wells & Mendip Astronomers resources and events:
Virtual Star Camp Saturday 30th May
After the disappointment of having to cancel the real thing, our Events Co-ordinator Jo Richardson is organising a virtual Star Camp in 3 online sections:
6.30pm - 7.30pm - Introduction and meal online. You must be sat in your garden either on a deckchair or feel free to actually assemble your tent or even sit in your motorhome/caravan if possible!
8.00pm - 9.00pm - After a 30 minute break we will rejoin online for an "Astro" Quiz which I will require everyone's help in setting up Answers should be multiple choice.
9.30pm - 10.30pm - Live Stargazing online with one another, suggestions are welcome how to do this
Drop Jo a line at joannerichardson22@rocketmail.com to receive links for joining each section
Webinars
Jo Richardson, our Events Co-ordinator, will present a live webinar 'On Board the ISS ' at 7pm on Saturday 16th May. Jo is a UK Space Ambassador and worked within the Tim Peake Primary Project Outreach and Education Team during Tim's first mission to the International Space Station. She has met Tim and looked in depth at his experience on the ISS, so this will be a fascinating talk. Please email wellsmendipastro@gmail.com to receive the link and password to the meeting.
Live or pre-recorded 'shed talks'
By members on any favourite area of astronomy and space. A dedicated Dropbox link will be emailed to members, for uploading pre-recorded talks which will be watchable via a YouTube link provided here.
Live video observing
Simon Holbeche presented 'Skies from my Shed' on Thursday Apr 23, 2020 21:00 London - thanks Simon, it was great fun. We saw Venus, Castor (binary star), Messier 51 Whirlpool Galaxy and Messier 44 Beehive Cluster
Naked eye astronomy events Raise their profile through Blog posts, social media....
Live discussion evenings with neighbouring astronomy societies on pre-arranged topics.
Online quiz night date to be announced
More ideas needed for links to external resources and events, gradually to be added to the list below
External resources and events
British Astronomical Association weekly webinars, every Wednesday evening 19:00 BST https://britastro.org/node/21142
This Wednesday 6th May, Hugh Allen will be giving the BAA's Wednesday webinar on hunting for molecules with a spectroscope
https://britastro.org/node/21426
British Astronomical Association video archive now publicly available https://britastro.org/node/21026
British Interplanetary Society are streaming previous lectures and live Q&A sessions https://www.bis-space.com/2020/04/06/24452/streaming-bis-lectures
The Virtual Astronomy Club - twice weekly online get togethers https://www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/virtual-astro-club/
Cambridge Institute of Astronomy - pre-recorded and live online talks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa7e55mYI2xQAoV_0hRmL-g
Astrobites - daily summaries of the latest astronomy research https://astrobites.org
Space Detectives is running 2 events in the next few weeks:
Blast Off 1 Remote
This is aimed at families directly with KS1 and KS2/LKS3 children at home and will feature the science of rockets, a look at the life of an Astronaut and then making a rocket to keep. Parents will need to be present and ensure that they have access to coloured pens, scissors and sticky tape. Tissue paper would be useful but coloured in paper will do as well. Participants should pre-register at least a day before for this session by emailing Jo Richardson at joannerichardson22@rocketmail.com so that the rocket stencil can be sent out. There is a choice of dates for this popular event:
Topic: Blast Off 1 SD Remote Time: Apr 22, 2020 01:30 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/669361992 Meeting ID: 669 361 992
Topic: Blast Off 1 SD Remote Time: Apr 27, 2020 11:00 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81475494617 Meeting ID: 814 7549 4617
Topic: Blast Off 1 SD Remote Time: May 1, 2020 11:00 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84364887909 Meeting ID: 843 6488 7909
ESERO-UK Resources Overview
This second session is aimed at parents who are trying to home school during school closures and features an overview of the free resources available from the European Space Education Office, which is part of the National STEM Learning Centre. Such resources are easy to use with full background explanations, written by educational specialists and the Space Industry themselves. They feature fun and innovative ways of engaging children and young people in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths by using "Space" as the context. This is a free session and no pre-registration is necessary.
Topic: Free ESERO-UK CPD Time: Apr 23, 2020 03:30 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/475978452 Meeting ID: 475 978 452
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If you are interested in becoming a member of Wells and Mendip Astronomers, please contact us using the email icon below.