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Please use the anchor links below to find out more, or simply scroll
down the page.
Officers | Our
aims | Members | Membership
fees | Journal and website | Meetings
| Night sky observing | Activities
Officers
| Founder | |
Chris Rose - 1990 |
| Patron | |
Sir Bernard Lovell - O.B.E.,LLD.,DSc.,FRS. |
| President | |
Sir Francis Graham Smith - 13th Astronomer Royal |
| Vice-President | |
Professor Emeritus Rod Davies - C.B.E., FRS Jodrell Bank Observatory |
| Honorary members | |
Sir Patrick Moore - C.B.E., FRAS Professor Ian Morison - Gresham Professor of Astronomy, Jodrell Bank Observatory Megan Argo Tony Hordell Cherry Moss Alan Smith John Thomson |
| Chairman | |
Andrew Greenwood |
| Vice-Chairman/Editor | David Ogden | |
| Secretary | |
Diana Willcox |
| Treasurer | |
Malcolm Beesley |
| Librarians | |
Christine Elliot Judy Quinlan |
| Mailing list co-ordinator | Dana Taylor | |
| Observing co-ordinator | Paul Brierley | |
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Additional help is given by Mark Craven (refreshments) |
Our aims
Our long-term aims are to provide a focal point for contact between local astronomers and also to make astronomy accessible to the general public.
We would be pleased to hold Astronomy evenings for local schools and youth groups, to encourage interest in astronomy and to provide support for it as part of the National Curriculum.
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Members
Many of our members have considerable experience in various aspects of amateur astronomy such as astrophotography and CCD-imaging. If you are considering buying a telescope, talk to our experienced observers who will happily offer advice and guidance. The Society owns several telescopes and binoculars, which are available for hire by members. We also have an extensive book and video/DVD library from which titles may be borrowed.
Library list
To view our current list of titles, please download the Library list. If you wish to make a reservation please see our Librarians, Christine Elliot or Judith Quinlan at our main lectures (third Tuesday of every month).
Membership fees
Individual membership costs just £20.00 per year, payable on 1st September with reduced rates for those joining mid-term. Additional family members may join for a reduced fee of £10.00, but children under 16 years are entitled to free membership.
If you would like to join the Macclesfield Astronomical Society, please feel free to visit one of our meetings and collect an application form from one of the Committee members. Alternatively, e-mail Malcolm Beesley at treasurer@maccastro.com
Journal and website
‘What’s Up?’ is a free bi-monthly newsletter providing up-to-date Society news and astronomical information. It is available at our monthly meetings and online, here.
We aim to update our fully featured website on a regular basis. Please add our URL to your Bookmark listing. For your reference, our web address is: http://www.maccastro.com
Meetings
There are three official meetings held by the Macclesfield Astronomical Society each month. We hold a Workshop and Beginners class on the first Tuesday of each month at Macclesfield Town Hall. We also provide a Lecture by a visiting speaker on the third Tuesday, at the Village Hall in Goostrey. The Lecture lasts for one hour with time for questions afterwards, followed by coffee and a chance to talk with other members.
Night sky observing
Informal observing sessions are held from time-to-time when the weather permits. These will be announced at meetings or via our website or at Workshops and lectures. Members and their guests are welcome to use the Society’s equipment or bring their own.
Dark sky field trips
On a regular basis we arrange weekend visits to Harris House (kindly provided by William Hulme Grammar School) in Hardraw to observe under wonderful, dark Yorkshire skies. The trips run from a designated date on a Friday evening to the following Sunday morning. Announcements are made well in advance of the event to allow members to register their interest.
Join us and see the night sky as Nature intended it to be ...
Activities
During 2009
Last year's notable activities are listed below:
- A total of five Hardraw dark sky field trips
- Involvement in the creation and promotion of star parties at Jodrell Bank Observatory
- Further development of our astronomy public outreach and GCSE programme with various local schools
- Holding public events and star parties for the residents of Bollington as part of the International Year of Astronomy and Bollington Festival
- Consultation, involvement and arrangement of a public star party to celebrate the Bollington well-dressings
- Development and implementation of various light pollution reduction programmes
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| Click to download (1.6mb) Right-click (Windows)/Ctrl-click (Macintosh) and choose 'Download link to disk'. |
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In April 2006 there was a step forward in our on-going fight. The first UK law tackling light pollution came into force. Exterior lighting joins noise and smells on the list of things that can be treated as a Statutory Nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
However, we believe the problem is yet to be taken completely seriously. The issues will not be solved overnight, so we urge as many people as possible to write to their local council, MP, or the Prime Minister.
Please feel free to download our report.
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| Click to download (700kb) Right-click (Windows)/Ctrl-click (Macintosh) and choose 'Download link to disk'. |
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On the 11th November 2005, a group of third year students visited the University telescope at Wast Hills and took spectra of the night sky with the telescope in various positions; towards the city, zenith and away from the city. Very high levels of sodium and mercury - the main elements used in Birmingham street lights - were found towards the city and zenith. The ‘away from city’ spectra were intended to show a clear, light free sky, but they were in fact spoilt by the security lights of a house in that direction.
Please feel free to download Hilary Summerfield's report.
If you wish to find out more, or join the Macclesfield Astronomical Society, please contact us.
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 July and August updates ... The bright twilight nights are slowly giving way to darker skies and the prospect of revealing a little-known nightly sight. Away from the towns and cities, the Milky Way will soon be glimpsed meandering through the constellation of Cygnus. This river of stars was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians ... Nowadays, especially when we approach the end of Summer, it's astronomers that turn their gaze skyward and praise the sight of a myriad of stars arching high above them. The following sections have been updated: This month's night sky and observations.
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Header images courtesy of the Hubble Heritage Project