Alex Pratt of the BAA kicked off our October meeting last night in Edinburgh with an interesting talk on meteor observing and recording.

Alex explained how you don’t have to freeze with a deckchair and blanket to record meteors these days (unless of course you want to) by using automated video cameras with software techniques to analyse the data.

Also at the meeting:

  • President Andrew Farrow welcomed 4 new members and 2 from last month
  • We also welcomed visitors, some wanting to join the Society as a result of visiting us at the ROE Doors Open days and finding us online
  • Alan Pickup gave his monthly guide to the night sky in Edinburgh
  • Sean gave the Secretary’s update (see below)
  • There were offers of telescopes for sale and telescopes for loan to members
  • Andrew Farrow introduced the first of a new regular feature – an overview of what’s happening in the world of astronomy and space, covering topics that included: The Goblin discovery, Hyabusa-2, Parker Solar Probe, Japanese space elevator…
  • There were 3 member presentations: Peter Black about the Imaging Group, Hugh Somerville on Iridium satellites, and Graham Rule on a “wandering” Lorimer Medal

A very interesting and varied evening of talks!

Our next meeting is on 2 November with a talk on METI Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Dr Alan Penny of St Andrews University. We hope to see you then.

Secretary’s update

  • There’s an evening with Astronaut Michael Foale on Monday 5 November at 7pm at Edinburgh University (Aikman Lecture Theatre George Square). Tickets online form £18
  • Mexborough and Swinton Astronomical Society  is having an Astrocon to mark its 40th Anniversary on Saturday 27 October
  • The Royal Scottish Society of Arts is having a astronomy related talk on Monday 28th January 2019 at 7pm in the AUC.  Professor Ken Rice will be speaking about “Finding planets around other stars”. It is open to the public. Further details at: https://www.rssa.org.uk/20190128.shtml
  • The author Neil Haggath has written a new self-published science fiction novel, Moonsafe Red. It is now available for Kindle, as well as in print. It can be bought from the Amazon Kindle Store for £3.99  www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GQ915G4
  • The ASE now has a club section on the Stargazers Lounge forum. So anyone who uses the forum is encouraged to join that club section and contribute to it: https://stargazerslounge.com/clubs/21-astronomical-society-of-edinburgh/
  • Scott Provan is selling his Meade LX200 10″ telescope. If anyone is interested in buying it, get in touch and we’ll put you in contact with him.