Author: casadmin

The 2023 annual Coordinator’s report is available for members to view online in the member’s area. (https://cotswoldas.org.uk/members).

If you would prefer to see a printed copy, please attend the AGM on Saturday 8th April and email the Coordinator by the latest Thursday 6th so a copy can be prepared for you.

Planets:

Mercury:  Mercury reaches greatest Eastern elongation on the 11^th and is reasonably well placed for observing.  So – mid April is your best time when it is around 17 degrees from the Sun and has a good northerly declination which puts it higher in the sky. You will still need a good clear western horizon to catch it after sunset, but it is well worth the effort to see this elusive planet.

Venus:  This is now a very prominent evening object and becoming increasingly bright and higher in the sky.  The apparent diameter is slowly increasing as the phase drops to about 75%.

 Mars is still visible in the evening sky in Taurus.  The disc size drops to less that 6 arc seconds this month and it is getting low in the western sky by the time it gets dark.

Jupiter is no longer visible, reaching conjunction with the Sun on the 11^th April.

Saturn is not currently visible. It will become a morning object later in the spring.

Uranus and Neptune are also lost in the twilight.

Lyrid Meteor Shower: This is the main meteor shower this month.

They may be visible from the 14^th to the 30^th with the maximum on the 23^rd April.

The best time to see them is after midnight, mainly because that is when the constellation of Lyra is high enough in the sky, but also as the maximum is reached at 05:00 hours on the 23^rd.  They should be favourable this year and occasionally produce fine displays, the last being in 1982.

 6^th April:  Full Moon.                      13^th April:  Moon is at last quarter.

20^th April:  New Moon                   27^th April:  Moon is at First Quarter

To view this post in PDF format please CLICK HERE.

By James Weightman

Cotswold Astronomical Society now holds its regular monthly meetings at the clubhouse of the Deer Park Archers. On a Sunday evening later in each month observation sessions have been held here. In the past weather conditions have not been too helpful, but for February 26th there were at last clear skies.

To read the rest of this article please view the full PDF here.

Mercury:  Mercury is still a morning object throughout most of the month. However, as its declination is around -20⁰ or worse, it will be very low in the sky and hard to see.  It’s probably best to wait until April to see it in the evening sky, when it will be better placed.

Venus:  This is now an evening object and becoming increasingly easy to observe.  It starts the month with a low declination of -11 degrees, but by the end it is nearly +4 degrees, making it significantly higher in the evening sky.  Its magnitude remains around – 3.9 throughout.  The phase decreases from 90% to 85%, although the angular diameter increases only a little to 12 arc seconds.

To read the rest of the Sky Notes please view the full PDF here.

Photo by CAS Member Tim Jackson

Planets:

Mercury:  Mercury is a morning object from mid to late January. However, as its declination is around -20° it will be very low in the sky and hard to see.  It’s probably best to wait until April to see it in the evening sky, when it will be better placed.

Venus:  This is now, technically, an evening object. … To read the full article please login and go to the members area, under Mercury Articles.

Mars is a prominent red object rising in the east at sunset.  It reaches opposition on the 8^th December. To read the full article please login and go to the members area.

By David Powley November 2022

I’ve been an astrophotographer for several decades and have always used the same Vixen GPDX mount and a Vixen Star Sensor 2000PC controller. Whilst the mount is still working well, I was becoming concerned that the controller, long discontinued, wasn’t going to last forever and that I should think about having a replacement ready before it failed. I also wanted to keep the existing DC motor drives, and at least have control over “pier flipping”.

To read this article in full, please log in and visit the members area.

Meade LX 200 GPS 10inch

• Large Field Tripod
• Telrad Finder Scope
• Remote Focuser
• 26mm eyepiece
• Heavy Duty Wedge Mount
• Electrically heated dew shield
• Balance weight system less weights
• Top mounting rail for guide scope

The telescope is currently installed in a humidity controlled observatory.

For more information please contact Peter Burgess on 01452-506850

Since the last update here we have been fortunate to have received volunteers for the posts of Membership Secretary, now filled by Dave Allerton and Matthew Castle as the new Editor.

We also welcome Graham Kent as the new Observing Director.  He will be assisted by our previous post holder, Susan Snow.

This still therefore leaves us with the Events Organiser post to fill. The more people we have either as full committee members or as assistants, the easier it becomes for everyone. So if you have an interest in helping to run your club, even if you have very little time availability, please let us know by contacting the Coordinator, or Secretary via the forms on the web page at https://cotswoldas.org.uk/about/committee