Despite the rain and clouds, over 100 people attended last week’s (5th January 2010) Wight Stargazing Live Event.
Vectis Astronomical Society organised the event to coincide with the BBC’s Stargazing Live programmes shown on television this week.
There was even the potential to see two planets and some meteors – if the weather had co-operated.
Even though the activities had to remain Earth based, photos taken by Island astronomers were on display at the Isle of Wight Observatory in Water Lane, Newchurch, along with a selection of ten telescopes. These included a fifty year old home made “Dobsonian” telescope and a state of the art computer controlled refractor telescope.
Visitors were able to ask the society’s experienced amateur astronomers questions – which ranged from “What’s a black hole?” and “What are shooting stars” to “Which telescope should I buy” and “How do I align my telescope?”
Visitors treated to talks by experts
Brian Curd, the Observatory Director gave an illustrated talk entitled “Isle of Wight and the Universe: Where do we fit in?” – which brought the Isle of Wight down to scale compared to other objects in the world / solar system / galaxy and universe. The talk was inspiring, although it left people feeling a little small and wondering at the unbelievable size of the cosmos.
Along with the help of the children in the audience, I told the story of how Orion fought many monsters, including a killer wherhamster mouse and an army of teddybears – led by Ursa Major, to be rewarded with the jewels he put on his belt, shoulder, knee and scabbard. And even why his big dog, Canis Major, has the largest and brightest diamond on his collar.
The event was co-ordinated by Elaine Spear, committee member of the VAS, who did an excellent job of ensuring there was plenty for everyone to see and do.
The Isle of Wight Observatory is open every Thursday evening from about 8pm, and anyone is welcome to just turn up.
More details at Wight Astronomy.
Image: Write_Adam under CC BY 2.0
