Unfortunately, the editor was unable to attend the April meeting and therefore is not able to report on the evenings proceedings! However, for the record, Greg Smye Rumsby gave the talk and the title was "What size is that?" From the various snippets of information that I have been able to pick up the lecture was a lively affair and most entertaining.
The next meeting is due to be held on Wednesday 8 May, at Uplands drama studio as usual. The evening will start at the usual time of 7.30 with the talk starting at 7.45. The speaker this month is Kevin Apps and the title of the talk is "New Planets - Update". Some members may remember that Kevin visited the society last year and gave us a talk on the subject of extrasolar planetary systems. Kevin was involved in one of the first successful search for extrasolar planets and has been involved in the subject since that time. At the time of the first discovery he was an undergraduate at the University of Sussex. He has been a member of teams using the AAT and Keck telescopes.
It is with quiet disappointment that we learn that 10
people have yet to renew their subscriptions. However, it was encouraging to
sign up 5 completely new members, a warm welcome to all of you.
There is some unfortunate news from Uplands in that they have introduced a new
cost formula in the charges for hire. The cost of hiring the Drama studio for
each meeting has risen to £27.50, an increase over 11 meetings of 120%! This
means that a typical years costs of hall hire, speaker expenses, postage etc
will be in the region of £570, which equates to 38 subscriptions. We have 48
members at present and so we should break even with a small margin for
incidentals, this does however depend on the generosity of speakers who charge
only a minimal expense. In order to maintain a buffer for contingencies we will
continue to raise additional funds although we do not wish to overdo events such
as raffles at meetings.
We could cut costs by hiring a normal classroom at £13.75 per meeting. However,
some of the larger classrooms are not set up with blackouts to allow the showing
of slides! It has also been established that we could use the Commemoration
Hall at a reasonable rate, although there may be long standing public meeting
arrangements on the dates we require. The rate at the Sports Pavilion on the
edge of the village is identical to Uplands.
We have paid for the use of the Drama Studio until December 2002. It has a
number of advantages such as parking and being purpose built for projecting
slides etc. It is also worth mentioning that all literature we have at present
distributed show it as our location.
The treasurer or indeed any other committee member would gratefully receive any
comments on this matter.
A new national Society
for the History of Astronomy is being formed, with the support of noted
astronomy historian Dr. Allan Chapman of Wadham College, Oxford. The Society
will welcome equally amateur and professional historians and astronomers, and
enthusiasts with a general interest in the subject. The objectives of the
Society will include encouraging new research into the history of astronomy,
especially amateur research at the local level, and facilitating its collation,
publication and dissemination both by conventional means and through the
internet.
It is planned to develop a close working relationship with the Royal
Astronomical Society and the British Astronomical Association Historical
Section, with the aim of contributing research material and publications to both
of their Libraries as well as maintaining a central Archive and promoting the
preservation of such research in local, county and national record offices.
Stuart Williams of the SHA said "Astronomers know well the major
contribution that amateurs can and do make to the study of the great science,
both making new discoveries and supporting the major research programmes of the
professionals. Amateur and local historians can make an equally important
contribution to the history of astronomy, especially its local history or in
those aspects of history which are not always covered by professionals, such as
that of the scientists assisting the 'big names', the local and university
observatories, the amateur astronomers and societies, the telescope makers and
publishers, etc. The SHA will have as one of its primary aims the encouragement
and support of amateur research in these areas especially, but will also
encourage professional research and the widest possible general interest in the
subject.
The Society for the History of Astronomy will be founded at a special meeting
organised for the purpose at Wadham College, Oxford, on Saturday 29th June 2002
at 1pm. A light lunch will be available at modest cost before the meeting, at 12
noon. Anyone interested in joining the new Society and contributing to its work
is very welcome to attend that meeting, and for further details and a formal
Invitation should indicate their interest by sending an A4 first class stamped
s.a.e. to: Stuart Williams FRAS LRPS, Society for the History of Astronomy,
Flamsteed Villa, 26 Matlock Road, Bloxwich, West Midlands, WS3 3QD
Chairman: Murray R. Barber 01892 654618 murray.barber@virgin.net
Secretary: Tim Bance 01732 832745 timbance@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Ian Reeves 01892 784255
Editor: Peter Bamblett 01732 368656 pbamblett@hotmail.com
Web site: Rob Cray rob@arcray.net
Publicity: Michael Harte 01892 783292 michael@greenman.demon.co.uk
Dir. of Obs.: Sean Tampsett 01892 667092 sean_tampsett@hotmail.com
Librarian: Joan Grace 01892 783721
Custodian of Equipment: Peter Prince 01892 836284