Meetings for 2011 - 2012 Season
All Normal meetings are held in the Denham room at the Priory St Centre, at Priory Street, York YO1 6ET (just off Micklegate, five minutes walk from the Railway station). Click here to see it on the map. The nearest public car park is Nunnery Lane and costs £2 for the night after 6pm (£1 for York residents). There is limited car parking on Priory Street itself. Meetings start at 8pm sharp, but feel free to arrive from 7:30pm onwards for a chat. Admission on the door is £1 for members, £2 for non-members, with all 16s and under free.
Our regular star parties are held on the Knavesmire, at the T-junction on Knavesmire Road. Click here to see it on the map. There are no charges for these events, but donations are gratefully accepted!
For details of all meetings and events for the 2011-2012 season (including those that have already taken place) please see here
Meetings for the 2011-2012 Season
The evolution of planetary crusts by Kevin Read
3rd February 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
When planets form, they have an initial crust as they cool down following, or during, the accretionary phase. Following on from that, primarily depending on their size, crusts of planets start to evolve and physically change in appearance. The talk will look at terrestrial bodies in the Solar System and discuss their evolution into how they appear today.
Relativistic Jets by Prof. Sam Falle, University of Leeds
17th February 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Some galaxies produce relativistic jets whose power output is much larger than that of the all the stars in the galaxy put together. These jets are generated by an object in the centre of the galaxy which is about the same size as the solar system; almost certainly a black hole. This talk describes how these jets are formed and how they blast their way out of the galaxy.
The Solar Neighbourhood – A guide to the nearest stars by Colin Steele
2nd March 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Awaiting talk details
The Traveller's Guide to the Solar System by Sky Marshall Johanuss von Whipp III (Junior)
16th March 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
York Astronomical Society would like to offer the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Sky Marshall Johanuss von Whipp III (Junior) aboard the good ship YORKAS! Once boarding has completed, KAL (the ship's computer) and the Sky Marshall will take us on a whistle-stop tour of the Solar System!
No meeting
6th April 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
As this is Good Friday, we shall not be having our normal meeting at Priory Street Centre
TBC
20th April 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Due to family commitments, Mark Dawson is unable to present the planned talk entitled "The Life Cycle of Stars". We are looking for an alternative date on which Mark will be able to give this talk and for an alternate speaker for this meeting.
Images of the Space Shuttle by Paul Money, Boston Astronomers
4th May 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
In Paul Money's second talk of the year, he gives a tribute to the Space Shuttle in what he personally feels are the 10 best, or most iconic images that sum up the Shuttle era. Paul will then go on to tell the story behind the image and why he feels it belongs in his "top 10".
This talk also forms part of the YAS 40th anniversary events, more details can be seen below
At last! We get a meeting on...
Star Wars Day! (May the fourth be with you)
York Astronomical Society 40th Anniversary Spectacular
5th May 2012 - Priory St.
You're only 40 once and YAS are celebrating in style! A special full-day event, packed with lectures from Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Prof. Monica Grady, Dr. Allan Chapman and Nik Szymanek.
Full details of the days events will be posted nearer the date, so make sure you keep coming back for more details!
The Kielder Observatory – its first years... by Gary Fildes FRAS, Kielder Observatory
18th May 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Kielder Observatory was a glint in Gary's eye over 10 years ago, just as he was thinking about star camps, his attention turned to bigger things. This talk is about the evolution of an idea that began as a concept and has emerged as a tremendous visitor attraction and platform for astronomy. Now, the Kielder Observatory has had over 25,000 visitors in 4 years and is officially recognised as the top visitor attraction in Northumberland! This is the story so far...
The Medieval Astrolabe by Dominic Ford
1st June 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Awaiting talk details
Informal Evening by members of York Astronomical Society
15th June 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
An informal evening, where members of the society are invited to step up and give a short presentation on an astronomy-related subject that interests them.
Active Galactic Nuclei and why Amateurs should observe them by Nick Hewitt, BAA
6th July 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Awaiting talk details
Stars of Life and Death – the biggest explosions in the Universe by Tom Boles, BAA
20th July 2012 - 8pm Priory St.
Awaiting talk details
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YAS Free Public Star Party
29th February 2012 - 7pm-9pm (weather permitting), Knavesmire.
YAS Free Public Star Party on the Knavesmire. From 7pm till late (around 9pm), weather permitting. We will be there, even if it rains, for about half an hour for a chat. Observe through our telescopes, or feel free to bring your own along for help and advice if needed. Objects on show should include: the Moon, planets (Mercury and Uranus setting, Venus, Jupiter and Mars will be rising), star clusters (Hyades, Pleiades, M44, M67), and galaxies (M31).
YAS Free Public Star Party
28th March 2012 - 7pm-9pm (weather permitting), Knavesmire.
YAS Free Public Star Party on the Knavesmire. From 7pm till late (around 9pm), weather permitting. We will be there, even if it rains, for about half an hour for a chat. Observe through our telescopes, or feel free to bring your own along for help and advice if needed. Objects on show should include: the Moon, planets (Jupiter, Venus and Mars), star clusters (Pleiades, M35, M44), and galaxies.
YAS Free Public Star Party
25th April 2012 - 7pm-9pm (weather permitting), Knavesmire.
YAS Free Public Star Party on the Knavesmire. From 7pm till late (around 9pm), weather permitting. We will be there, even if it rains, for about half an hour for a chat. Observe through our telescopes, or feel free to bring your own along for help and advice if needed. Objects on show should include: the Moon, planets (Venus, Mars and Saturn just rising), star clusters, and galaxies.
YAS Free Public Star Party
23rd May 2012 - 7pm-9pm (weather permitting), Knavesmire.
YAS Free Public Star Party on the Knavesmire. From 7pm till late (around 9pm), weather permitting. We will be there, even if it rains, for about half an hour for a chat. Observe through our telescopes, or feel free to bring your own along for help and advice if needed. Objects on show should include: the Moon, planets, star clusters, and galaxies.
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