Medway's Mayor is to visit the Mid-Kent Astronomical Society's Observatory in Canterbury Friday 17th April 2009.

Friday 17th of April is to see a return visit from the Mayor of Medway, Councillor David Carr who is due to visit the Mid-Kent Astronomical Society's Observatory.

The Chairman welcomes the Mayor on his previous visit to Bredhurst.

Friday's observing meeting is a regular observing session, run by the Society at the 'James Irwin' observatory in Canterbury.  The meeting is open to all members of the public who are interested in astronomy.  Please meet at the Victoria Hotel bar (see link for map) by 20:30 hrs if you are interested in coming. 

Observing sessions are free format meetings for members and interested visitors, so if you have questions please ask.  The meeting will be lead by the Society's Observing Officer, Peter Parish who will be on hand to give advice and guidance. Visitors will have the opportunity (weather permitting) to view the stars through a range of the society's instruments, including the society's Celestron 14" telescope (Celestron C14 Schmidt Cassegrain telescope, a 2m focal length catadioptric F10 telescope).  The Society also own a 16" aperture Meade Lightbridge dobsonian telescope - a 'light bucket' (the name is an allusion to it's photon capture capacity, not it's weight!).

Observing Conditions for Friday:

According to the current forecast (see links page); Friday will have a mostly cloudy sky, but this may change as the time gets nearer, remember to wrap up warm.

Sun sets at 19:56 (local time),  the Moon (waining crescent just past it's last quarter) 47% illuminated, doesn't rise until Saturday 02:58 and so will not affect the light level of the sky until we have likely ended observations.

All of the planets except Saturn will have set by the time we start observing. Saturn will be in the constellation of Leo, it rises at 15:40, transits at 22:22 and should be clearly visible at magnitude 0.67 (rings are almost edge on). The data for Saturn's 'major' moons around transit time is:

For those who like a challenge, asteroid Ceres transits at 21:43 Magnitude 7.8, .  

During the evening refreshments will be available (tea and coffee).  Attendance is free, but the society welcomes a donation of £1 towards upkeep of the facility (this is not obligatory).

The Observatory (undergoing some light graffiti)

The James Irwin observatory is operated by the Mid-Kent Astronomical Society.  As seen here (at night) the letters MKAS have been applied using a star pointer (green laser pointer) for effect.  The observatory is open alternate weeks, and is available to members of the Society at other times. See the events listings for further details of observing sessions.