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Stars are out for anniversary
MBTC-18-01-12-Bedford Astronomical Society celbrating their 25th anniversary this year. Bedford School Observatory, Pemberley Ave, Bedford. Peter Truscott (programme co-ordinator) and Darren Jehan(Chairman) with SCT (16 inch aperture) Telescope.
FOR 25 years a group of stargazers have been upholding one of Bedford’s proudest and yet least known legacies, as part of Bedford Astronomical Society.
The group was formed in 1986, and first met at one member’s home in Riseley.
And since then they have moved to the high-tech observatory at Bedford School, invited speakers from across the world to give talks, and taken their own knowledge of the stars out to schools and groups across the area.
Member Dave Eagle said: “It started when I went to an astronomy evening at Sharnbrook School. I enjoyed it, and I met a man called Tony Metcalfe.
“Something about it just clicked for me, so we started meeting in Riseley, which was darker than where I lived. It was great fun, and this was in 1986, just before Halley’s Comet was set to re-appear, as it does every 76 years, which just added to everyone’s interest.”
The first officially meeting of Bedford Astronomical Society was held in January 1987, and after being based successively at Bedford School science lab and Bromham Cricket Pavilion before moving to their current base 12 years ago when the observatory was built as a community project.
Dave added: “We love the sky and what’s out there, and a lot of what we do is helping to introduce people who don’t know or understand much about astronomy.
“People who have never looked through a telescope before can come here see Saturn and its rings. That’s great fun to be a part of, and you come again, and again, until you’re hooked.”
To celebrate the society’s anniversary there will be a full day event held on Sunday, February 26, including six guest speakers.
And this year’s timetable of events is now being finalised, hopefully featuring visitors from Moscow and the USA.
To find out more about Bedford Astronomical Society visit www.bedsastro.org.uk
Did you know?
Bedford has a proud astronomical history. So much so that there are four features on the moon named after people who lived in the town.
The first is the Smyth Sea, named after Admiral Smyth. He lived in The Crescent in the 1830s.
Piazzi Smyth’s Crater is named after his son, who also has the observatory at the school named after him. He was Astronomer Royal for Scotland for many years and a pioneer of high altitude observing.
Thomas Elger’s Crater is named after a 19th century Mayor of Bedford. He is also known for his book The Moon: A full Description and Map of its Principal Physical Features, which is still highly regarded by astronomers.
And MacLear’s Crater is named after Thomas MacLear, a one-time surgeon at Bedford Hospital who went on to be Astronomer Royal for South Africa. Uniquely, MacLear’s Beacon on Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, is also named after him.
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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