Winter Stargazing Events

[stargazer]

West Kintyre Stargazers return for their second winter season of events and talks. This season begins on Sunday 27th October at The Putechan with a talk from Dr Andrew Conway introducing the wonderful world of Comets. The following weekend, the stargazers have teamed up with Bute Astronomical Society to bring a spooktacular science and space fun day to Campbeltown Victoria Hall. To find out more about these events, visit www.westkintyrestargazers.org
All Welcome!!

[stargazer]

http://www.westkintyrestargazers.org/scary-science.html
Elements is coming to Campbeltown!! “Scary Science”
When Saturday 2nd November 2013 from 11.00am – 4.00pm at Victoria Hall
Adults £3, Children £2 with special ‘spooky’ voucher £1
This event is in conjunction with West Kintyre Stargazers

To celebrate the chills and thrills of Halloween at our first annual Spooky Science show with the citizen scientists of Campbeltown.
Elements Scary Science is, where creepy chemistry & mysterious science combine to provide a hauntingly good time. There will be hair-raising activities, creepy crafts, and fangtastic demonstrations.
You can look forward to a hair raising experience from Elements own mad scientists & volunteers.
Discover scary science with Dundee Science Centre, tremble with awe at the Science of the Circus, enjoy a view of space with the cosmic dome of Think Science and for all you Zombie Lovers we even have our own Zombie Science expert!!

Not forgetting those of you who enjoy science but without too many chills we have thrills from our own dark arts team of volunteers from Rustle Way Foundation. Learn all about the night sky and the equipment required and how to take photographs from our own Astro-photographer – Douglas Cooper.

To ensure that all of you have a spooktacular day Darth Vader & his storm troopers will be calling in at the Victoria Hall on 2nd November to rally the dark forces to find the Elements treasure hidden in the hall by the warriors of the Jedi force.

The special amulet represents the four elements of life as we know it Air, Wind, Water & Earth.
A spectacular Elements award awaits the citizen scientists who can identify & save the treasure from Darth & the Empire.

Have a look at our web site & Facebook for the Elements treasure clues & join us in defeating Darth Vader at the Victoria Hall on Saturday 2nd November 2013.

To make the event even more fun we have distributed special money off vouchers throughout Kintyre schools or download printer friendly versions through our web page or Facebook links or just simply cut out the voucher in this spooktacular Newspaper
Dress to impress prizes awarded for best fancy dress!!!
Be afraid but be prepared to have lots of fun!
The team are looking forward to meeting the Citizen scientists of Campbeltown on the 2nd November at the Victoria Hall & to say thank you for your support for Elements Science funded by Scottish Government talking Science.
A very special event for a very special community!!!
Catch us at http://www.buteastronomicalclub.co.uk

[nigel65]

Great to find this thread.

[stargazer]

West Kintyre Stargazers hold their second lecture of this winter season of talks, at The Putechan, Sunday 24th November at 5pm.

2020 Vision: the Future of Astronomical Observations
Professor Martin Hendry

Our view of the Universe is set to change dramatically over the next decade, as
major new ground and space-based telescopes begin operating across the
electromagnetic spectrum and indeed beyond it.
In this lecture Professor Martin Hendry will survey the enormous scientific potential
of the next generation of telescopes, and preview some of the biggest questions
that astronomers might be tackling in 2020 and beyond.
Martin is Professor of Gravitational Astrophysics and Cosmology, and Head of the
School of Physics and Astronomy, at the University of Glasgow. He is a passionate
enthusiast for public engagement in science and was until recently a Science in
Society Fellow for the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. Martin is chair
of the West of Scotland branch of the British Science Association, and in 2011 was
elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in recognition of his contributions
to research, teaching and public engagement.

[stargazer]

Comet Ison is making an appearance in the south eastern sky before dawn, more about this phenomena on:
Comet of the Century- A Horizon special BBC2 Saturday 23rd November 9.15pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03k3881

[stargazer]

On Sunday 22nd December, West Kintyre stargazers are delighted to
welcome Dr Euan MacKie who will be staying on the west coast of
Kintyre for a couple of days. Dr MacKie is one of the most respected
professionals in the field of the specialised knowledge possessed by
the chambered tomb and standing stone builders of neolithic times.
Dr MacKie, though now retired from a career including Deputy Director
of The Hunterian Museum of the University of Glasgow, continues with
his passion for excavations and field work to further our understanding
of the Neolithic and Iron Age sites of Scotlands Atlantic Coast. This talk,
timed to coincide with the winter solstice will provide us with the
unique opportunity of learning from a recognised master in his field.
Dr MacKie is instrumental in working with The West Kintyre Stargazers
in our proposal to include Kintyre's Ballochroy Standing Stones in the
UNESCO's Astronomy and World heritage Initiative.
More info at:
http://www.westkintyrestargazers.org
BBC Chronicle Archive Cracking the Stone Age Code
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/chronicle/8604.shtml

[stargazer]

Sunday 2nd February 5pm The Putechan
Duncan Lunan - Incoming Asteroid! What could we do about it?
Over 10 years Duncan chaired a discussion project, now published in book form by Springer, on the question, ‘If we knew there was going to be an impact in ten years’ time, what could we do? What would we do?’. Many experts contributed including Prof. Colin McInnes of Glasgow University, later Strathclyde, and Jay Tate of Spaceguard UK. It raises a very wide range of issues, but there has been major international progress meantime on some of them, including detection methods and coordinating response.
More info at:
http://www.westkintyrestargazers.org
http://www.duncanlunan.com/incomingasteroid.asp

[stargazer]

Local lads Dr Alec MacKinnon & Prof. Ronnie Roberts bring the second season of stargazing events to a close with a fascinating insight into the life & times of Prof.Andrew McKellar.
March 9th The Putechan @ 5pm
Andrew McKellar
Professor Andrew McKellar (1910-1960) has been described as "Canada's greatest astronomer". He was the first to demonstrate the existence of molecules in interstellar space and had several other important discoveries to his name. His parents had emigrated to Canada from Campbeltown; among astronomers he must also be Kintyre's greatest son. We'll describe his discoveries and recall his Kintyre lineage to give a uniquely local look at the workings of stars, the origin of the chemical elements and even the evolution of the Universe.
More info at :
http://www.westkintyrestargazers.org