The Tavistock Astronomical Society meets each month (usually on thefirst Wednesday), in the science labs at Kelly College, Tavistock. Meetings start at 19.30. New members are always welcome, but may like to contact Mike Loader (Chairman) on 01822 613 231, or Ellie Coombs (Secretary) on 01822 834 263, first to confirm details of meetings.
Meetings are varied but usually include a review of current literature, a 'sky this month' overview so that members know what to look out for, some presentation from a visiting speaker or one of our own members, an annual quiz against the Plymouth Astronomical Society, and an informal time over coffee or tea. The society is affilliated to the Devon Astronomical Association, the Federation of Astronomical Societies and the Society for Popular Astronomy.
March 4th, 1998. tba
April 1st, 1998. tba
May 6th, 1998. AGM
June 10th, 1998. Visit to Plymouth University Planetarium.
June ?, 1998. BBQ, venue tba.
New session starts September, 1998.
Tavistock in the path of totality, but we are not in the dark!
Watch this space for special events and meetings.
The society has access to a 10 inch Newtonian and a 4 inch refractor at it observatory site at Kelly College. It is also in the process of building a new observatory to mount an original design of 12 inch reflector.
The Society sometimes holds public observing evenings, (the weather in Tavistock is not its best point). On October 24 and 25th last year, 1997, over 100 people turned out to get magnificent views of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Observing sessions can also be arranged by contacting the Chairman on 01822 613231.
Members interests vary from astro photography, the use of CCd cameras, historical astronomy, the astronomical significance of the nearby stone rows on Dartmoor, simple observing and astrophysics. A number of our members are also radio amateurs (G0LSG, G7LLG, G8ONR).
