Thursday 29 March 2012

Planets Galore!

Last night's meeting was an excellent summary of where the search for planets outside our solar system is so far. Professor Rob Jeffries spoke about the techniques for finding exoplanets, what has been discovered so far and the hopes for the future.

The following websites may be of interest:

Exoplanets
WASP

Friday 23 March 2012

Hose pipe ban for Titan?

A new analysis concludes that places on Saturn's moon Titan see rainfall about once every 1,000 years on average.

More details from the BBC here.

Friday 2 March 2012

Oxygen envelops Saturn's icy moon

A NASA spacecraft has detected oxygen around one of Saturn's icy moons, Dione.

More, from the BBC, here.

Thursday 1 March 2012

Visit to Capenhurst

We are arranging a visit to the uranium enrichment facility at Capenhurst on the 4th July. Numbers are strictly limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. You must be a UK citizen and have photo ID with you on the night. We need your details in advance, and also your shoe size!

Society Dinner

The Society Dinner is planned for Wednesday 11th April at the Grange Restaurant, Thornton Hough, Wirral. They offer a three course meal for £14.50, choose on the night. We do need numbers and payment in advance. There will be  a sheet put out for names at our next meeting in March. We will need to know by then if you and your partner wish to come.

Mirror, Mirror...

Yesterday's lecture was a fascinating examination of the work on the new European Extra Large telescope. Prof. David Walker (University College, London, and Glyndwr University, Wrexham) spoke on the history of telescope design before talking about the background to the E-ELT, its design and manufacture.

Being of a not very practical nature, I wasn't expecting this to be my thing, but I found it riveting, not least due to Prof. Walker's engaging style and obvious enthusiasm.