Astro-imaging Talk and Launch of the 12-inch Newise

We hope you will be able to join us at the Institute of Astronomy on Madingley Road next Tuesday, 26th September 2006 for a glass of wine and a talk by Martin Morgan Taylor on Astro-imaging. We shall also be launching the 12-inch Newise Telescope from Cape Instruments and the designer, Peter Wise, will be on hand to answer questions. The event starts at 7 pm.

The new telescope will also be on display in our showroom throughout the day.

Courses

Just a reminder about the courses coming up soon. There is a day for beginners on Saturday 7th October and a day on the Meade Deep-Sky Imager on Saturday 14th October. Details are on our web site or call Lee on 01954 211288 for further information.

Eclipse of the Moon - 7th September 2006

Did you see the lunar eclipse? I'm afraid that I didn't expect to see much as it was predicted to be in progress as the Moon rose and our skies have been very poor recently. However, I found myself on the M6 heading south from Cumbria on the Thursday evening and enjoyed a good view from about mid eclipse until the umbra cleared the Moon. I can't remember seeing such a sharp edge to the Earth's shadow before and could see no trace of reddening.

Campaign for Dark Skies

The 6th European Symposium on Dark Skies was held at the Royal Sailor's Home Club in Portsmouth last Friday and Saturday. Besides a wide range of astronomers, mostly from the UK and Europe, there were lighting engineers, planners, environmentalists and even two MPs.

Lembit Opik opened the meeting and Robert Key closed it. Both are helping the campaign to raise awareness of the importance of good lighting practice and had one important message for all of us. If you are concerned about light pollution and the waste and nuisance it entails then please write to your MP and local councillor. The more MPs who realise that it matters to their constituents the more effective people like Lembit and Robert can be.

http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/ gives useful background information that will help you to understand the issues better and to compose a suitable letter. Reasoned argument and placing the emphasis on the right level of lighting in the right place at the right time is likely to be most effective.

It is in everyone's interest to cut down on light pollution to reduce wasted energy, wasted money and hazardous glare. With increased energy costs and concern over carbon emissions there has never been a better time to help push the campaign along. If you care about our skies and the environment in general, please visit the campaign's web site then write to your MP. It will be 20 minutes well spent.

Astroblast 2007

The next Astroblast will be held on April 21st 2007 at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. Further details will be sent out as the planning evolves but please put the date in your diary. Those of you who attended Astroblast 2006 will know how good it was. We hope to make next year's even better with some new ideas and attractions as well as those things that worked so well this year.

Wild-Bird Food from Green Witch?

We get a lot of birder-watchers visit our showroom for binoculars and field scopes and in response to many requests have decided to stock a range of wild-bird food, feeders and related products. Wendy attended the Bird Fair at Rutland Water to select the most suitable range so we are confident that the products we stock are high quality and designed with the birds' best interests at heart.

Our range of food, feeders and nest boxes will attract a wide range of birds to your garden and provide hours of interest. With Autumn nearly here and Winter close on its heels this is a good time to get your feeders established and in regular use.

Nest boxes are best put up by February which means they make good Christmas presents, especially if you want to encourage children to take an interest in the nature on their doorstep.

The most popular products will go live on our web site today and more will be added in due course. Our showroom display and stock arrive next week for those of you who can visit in person.

And finally...

Poor old Pluto. I'm sure many of us still regard Pluto as a planet because it has been a planet all our lives. Speaking to a professional astronomer recently I was given an insight into some of the politics behind the decision to demote Pluto. This hadn't occurred to me before but if Pluto is not a planet then no American has discovered a planet. Surely this wouldn't have had a bearing on the decision. Or would it?

Clear Skies and Best Wishes

Neil

www.green-witch.com
www.arizonaskyvillage.co.uk