Details of forthcoming Astronomy events in school, for students, parents and members of our wider learning community, will appear here.
To enquire about attending an event, please contact the school on 0115 9732438 or at observatory@longeaton.derbyshire.sch.uk
Coming up….
The Transit of Venus
Meeting at the observatory building for breakfast at 4.45am. We will attempt to observe the later stages of this rare astronomical event. If you would like to attend please email the observatory to book your places.
Long Eaton Astronomical Society
Open to the general public. Meetings will begin with a talk on an astronomical topic followed by observing if the skies are clear. Membership is £10 per year, membership forms are available at each meeting. If you would like to attend a meeting as a non-member we ask for a £2 donation. Under 16′s can attend for free but must be accompanied by an adult.
The meeting schedule for the remainder of 2012 is:
Thursday 5th July (5-7pm – solar observing)
Thursday 6th September (8-10pm)
Thursday 4th October (8-10pm): Dr Helen Walker, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory – Infrared Astronomy (seeing the invisible)
Thursday 6th December (6-8pm): Professor Michael Merrifield, University of Nottingham – 21st Century Telescopes
Astronomical discoveries and the development of technology have always gone hand in hand. Only a few years after its invention, Galileo was using the telescope to revolutionize our view of the Universe. The story is the same in the 21st century, with some truly amazing developments in technology promising massive leaps forward in our understanding of the Universe. This talk will discuss how telescopes and other instrumentation have developed to-date, and what is on the drawing board for the coming decades. It will also describe some of the scientific advances that we hope to make with these instruments, ranging from measuring the accelerating expansion of the Universe to making the first detections of life outside the Solar System. Even in this time of budget cuts and austerity, Prof Merrifield will argue that it is still well worth investing to explore the Universe in which we live.
Family Astronomy Club
Open to The Long Eaton School students and their family members, to join please get a letter from Miss Flood or student services.
Thursday 22nd March (7-9pm) – The mythology of the night sky
Thursday 26th April (4-6pm) – The Sun
Thursday 24th May (4-6pm) – The transit of Venus
Thursday 28th June (4-6pm) – Shooting stars
January 2013 (between 21st and 27th)Andy Newsam’s AstroTour comes to TLES
Andy Newsam, Head of the National Schools Observatory, will be visitng TLES to host a number of Astronomy-related events. For more info see: http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/astrotour
Events at the observatory are held on Thursdays during term time.
First Thursday of the month: Long Eaton Astronomical Society meeting. Each meeting will include a talk on an astronomical topic followed by an observing session (weather permitting).
Second Thursday of the month: GCSE Astronomy observing evening. An opportunity for GCSE Astronomers to complete observations towards their coursework.
Third Thursday of the month: bookable time for external groups. External groups can book to visit the observatory for an observing evening or workshop. Email the observatory for more information.
Fourth Thursday of the month: TLES Family Astronomy club. Open to students at TLES and their family members. Each month will include hands on Astronomy activities followed by an observing session (weather permitting). Please collect a letter from Student Services or Miss Flood if you would like to join.
I would appreciate an invitation to the meeting on the 26th April & I assume there will be a sight of the telescope?
Hi Stuart. We have now brought forward the inaugural meeting to March 1st, and yes there will be an opportunity for some observation. Let us know at observatory@longeaton.derbyshire.sch.uk if you would like to attend, and sign up to follow the blog to receive further updates.