Stargazing Live 2012 -

Stargazing Live 2012

All events are now fully booked

All events are now fully booked, we have had an overwhelming amount of interest. If you didn't get to come to our events don't worry, we have events running all year round. We meet at our observatory most weekends and you are welcome to come along, see our Facebook page to see when we will be there next. We are also running an astronomy course which may be of interest to you. You can find out more about it here.

Nastronomers love Stargazing Live and we are so glad to be partnered with the BBC again this year to offer FREE astronomy events around the North East doing what we love best, promoting our passion for astronomy education and encouraging the public to LOOK UP!

This year it is especially exciting as we are merging two of this years events with our Dark Skies awareness project in conjunction with The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL EVENTS
(see booking details for each event below)

Events:

Friday 13th Jan 2012, 7.30-9.30pm

This event is now fully booked!

Druridge Bay Country Park- " Human Space Exploration"

Druridge Bay, Red Row, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 5BX

"Human Space Exploration" talk by Robert Naylor, followed by observing with Nastronomers under dark Northumbrian skies at Druridge Bay Country Park.

The talk will outline the history of human spaceflight, from Vostok 1 to the retirement of NASA's shuttle. It will then go into the reasons behind human spaceflight, and will evaluate whether it really is essential to our species. Finally the future of human spaceflight will be considered, including a look at Virgin Galactic, and the recently announced Space Lauch System.

The planet Jupiter and its four brightest moons will be visible through our telescopes. The Orion Nebula, a nearby stellar nursery, is an astounding sight! We'll also show you lots of star clusters and distant galaxies.

Hot drinks and snacks will be available to buy from the cafe.

Be sure to wrap up warm and feel free to bring binoculars or telescopes if you have them. There will be plenty to do - even on a cloudy night.

To book email Emma (Events Officer): emma@nastro.org.uk or phone 01670 511 536

Saturday 14th Jan 2012, 7.30-9.30pm

This event is now fully booked!

Bamburgh Castle -"Where are the Aliens?"

"Where are the Aliens?" lecture in the Kings Hall by Dr Adrian Jannetta FRAS, followed by stargazing with Nastro members in the Inner Ward of the castle grounds.

Astronomers have found more than 700 planets orbiting other stars. The day is fast approaching when astronomers will find another Earth. Running parallel to this search for extrasolar planets is the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Although planets seem to be commonplace in our Galaxy, with potentially millions of Earths among them, intelligent life is seemingly not so widespread. So where are the aliens?

A short Q&A after the lecture will be followed by an observing session with our telescopes and a laser guided tour of the night sky featuring views of Jupiter and moons.

We will be joined by the fabulous Institute of Physics, a leading scientific society promoting physics and bringing physicists together for the benefit of all. They will have a stall filled with weird and wonderful things for you to experience and experiment with. There will be solar system models for children to explore.

This event is organised in conjunction with Mel Nicholls from The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the aim of promoting dark skies awareness. The Northumberland Coast AONB was designated in 1958 and covers 39 miles of coast from Berwick to the Coquet estuary. Within this stretch of coastline is some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the country.

Be sure to wrap up warm and feel free to bring binoculars or telescopes if you have them.There will be plenty to do - even on a cloudy night. Refreshments will be available to buy from the cafe but you are welcome to bring flasks of hot drinks if you'd prefer.

Those with special access needs should contact Chris or Katie on 01668 214208 for information and advice.

To book contact Mel Nicholls at mel.nicholls@northumberland.gov.uk or phone 01670 534059.
To find out more about the event content email Emma Maddison, Events Officer at emma@nastro.org.uk

Monday 16th Jan 2012, 6.00-9.00pm

This event is now fully booked

Gibside, National Trust - BBC Stargazing Live Event

near Rowlands Gill, Burnopfield, Gateshead, NE16 6BG

This activity is organised and run by the BBC. To coincide with Stargazing LIVE, BBC Learning is presenting an evening packed with astronomy, observing and other fun science activities. Something for everyone from families to amateur astronomers.

NASTRO will be joining other local astronomical societies to run observing sessions with telescopes to show guests the wonders of the night sky. Gibside Chapel will host a presentation of music and astro projections, the science marquee will be running lots of fun hands-on astronomical and science related activities and we'll have stalls with local organisations and warm food and drink to keep you toasty. Plenty to do - even on a cloudy night.

Friday 20th Jan 2012, 7.30-9.30pm

This event is now fully booked

Druridge Bay- The Sun: Our Nearest Star

Druridge Bay, Red Row, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 5BX

Join us for a talk about our amazing Sun by Dr Paul Lewis FRAS followed by observing with Nastronomers at Druridge Bay Country Park.

In this session you'll learn exactly why the Sun shines - and what will happen when the fuel runs out!

The Sun is the star at the centre of the solar system. Astronomers have been able to watch the Sun in ever increasing detail for much of the last four centuries. They've discovered that it shines by transforming mass in its core into energy via an incredibly fortunate chain of nuclear reactions.

Dr Paul Lewis will also explain how a solar telescope works and tell you about the safe ways in which the sun can be viewed.

This talk will be followed by stargazing. Be sure to wrap up warm and feel free to bring binoculars or telescopes if you have them. There will be plenty to do - even on a cloudy night. Hot drinks will be available to buy at the cafe.

To book email Emma (Events Officer): emma@nastro.org.uk or phone 01670 511 536

Saturday 21st Jan 2012, 7.30-9.30pm

Fenham Farm, Berwick - 3D Tour of our Solar System

This event is now fully booked!

Fenham Farmhouse, Beal, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2PL

"3D Solar System Tour" by Dr Adrian Jannetta FRAS followed by Stargazing. Pack your telescope and binoculars if you have them and let Nastro take you on a guided tour of our wonderful Solar System.

This lecture will give a summary of our current knowledge of the solar system and highlight some of the outstanding images returned by spacecraft studying the Sun, the planets, their moons and comets and asteroids too.

The lecture will be followed by a brief Q&A session and, weather permitting, a laser guided tour of the night sky and views of Jupiter and its moons through our telescopes.3D glasses will be provided.

Be sure to wrap up warm and feel free to bring binoculars or telescopes if you have them.

There will be plenty to do - even on a cloudy night.

To book contact Mel Nicholls at mel.nicholls@northumberland.gov.uk or phone 01670 534059. To find out more about the event content email Emma Maddison, Events Officer at emma@nastro.org.uk

Fenham Farm is a bed and breakfast located in a beautiful coastal spot overlooking Holy Island in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and of Special Scientific Interest. A potential for a Dark Sky Discovery site. Overnight accommodation is available, please see the Fenham Farm website for more information.

This event is organised in conjunction with Mel Nicholls from The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the aim of promoting dark skies awareness. The Northumberland Coast AONB was designated in 1958 and covers 39 miles of coast from Berwick to the Coquet estuary. Within this stretch of coastline is some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the country.

To see this event on the BBC website click here

Friday 27th Jan 2012, 7.30-9.30pm

This event is now fully booked

Druridge Bay: Telescope and Imaging Workshop

Druridge Bay, Red Row, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 5BX

30 minute talk, imaging slideshow, telescope and imaging workshop followed by observing.

Frustrated with your telescope? Just getting into astronomy or imaging and don't know where to begin? Then this is the event for you!

In this session you will find out about the different types of telescopes and eyepieces and how they work together. There will be a range of scopes and equipment for you to see and 'Nastronomers' to answer your all your questions.

Find out how to astro image both with and without a telescope, learn processing techniques, see a slideshow of astro images by our members and find out how to do your own. Your images can be showcased on our website.

This talk will be followed by stargazing. Be sure to wrap up warm and feel free to bring binoculars or telescopes if you have them. There will be plenty to do - even on a cloudy night. Hot drinks will be available to buy at the cafe.

To book email Emma (Events Officer): emma@nastro.org.uk or phone 01670 511 536

Saturday 28th Jan 2012, 7.30-9.30pm

This event is now fully booked!

Druridge Bay then Hauxley Observatory- Lights Out! Star Party

Druridge Bay, Red Row, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 5BX
Hauxley Observatory, Hauxley Links, Low Hauxley, Northumberland NE65 0JR

Annual Stargazing LIVE Star Party. Followed by observing with Nastronomers under dark Northumbrian skies at Druridge Bay Country Park, then perhaps onto Hauxley Observatory!

Join NASTRO for a short astronomy talk about the effects of light pollution on astronomy by Malcolm Robinson. Then an interactive resource session where you can make your own Planisphere and more followed by observing.

Find out how you can help make a difference to the effects of light pollution.

We'll show you superb views of Jupiter and its moons, as well as star clusters and galaxies. Deep craters and volcanic plains will be visible on the crescent moon.