The programme for the first half of 2019 is below. Check back at a later date for details on events later in the year.
CAG Programme of Events for 2019
Members events are asterixed
Sat 12th January - Public Moonwatch Event - Thurso Riverside (opposite Scout Hall) @ 7pm (weather permitting)
*Fri 25th January - Members Dark Skies Event - Space News Update & “Adventures in Amateur Astronomy – 10 Years as Chairman of CAG” (Gordon Mackie) & observing session
Sat 16th February - Public Moonwatch Event - Wick High School @ 7pm (weather permitting)
Sat 23rd February - AGM - 11am at Pentland Hotel, Thurso
*Fri 1st March - Members Dark Skies Event - "Open source software for amateur astronomers" (Christian Wilhelm), "Astrophotography Tips" (Maciej Winiarczyk) & observing session
Fri 15th March - "KISSing The Moon" by Eric Walker / Lunar Observing (part of Caithness Science Festival)
Sat 16th March - Short talks "Peat Bog Iron and Martian Soils" (Prof Keith Nicholson) & "Lunar Basics" (Gordon Mackie) with Lunar Observing and a moonlit walk to the observation tower (weather permitting). Event venue is RSPB Field Centre, Forsinard.
Sat 23rd March - Caithness Science Festival Family Day (Wick High School)
*Fri 29th March - Members Event - observing session plus more "An Insight Into Type 1a Supernovae" (Iain Darby), "Astrophotography Tips" (Maciej Winiarczyk) & "What Makes Sirius Twinkle" (John Hilton)
Fri 12th April - Moonwatch / Public Talks - "Apollo Expeditions to the Moon" (Carole Whittaker) & "The Apollo Moon Landings - Debunking the Hoax Conspiracy Theory" (Mark Gibson)
Tues 14th May - "In search of a giant impact crater in Scotland" - talk about the Lairg Asteroid Impact Event by Dr Mike Simms, National Museums Northern Ireland. Pentland Hotel, Thurso (doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start)
*Fri 14th June - Observing and Imaging Equipment Evening (open to non-members who book a place in advance)
Thur 12th Sept - “Charles Piazzi Smyth: The Man Who Was Proven Right” (200th anniv of his birth) - Matjaz Vidmar, RoE
Fri 13th Sept - “From Standing Stones to Blasting Rockets – Scotland is Off to Space!” (RSPB Field Centre, Forsinard, 7.15pm start) - Matjaz Vidmar, RoE
*Fri 4th Oct - Members Dark Skies Stargazing Evening - "Caithness on Mars" (Prof Keith Nicholson) & observing session
Fri 1st Nov - "Astronomical Alchemy"- Gordon Mackie gives a talk celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table of Elements (IYPT 2019). The talk covers how the chemical elements are formed, followed by a brief guided tour of the Periodic Table highlighting the significance of some of the elements from an astronomy perspective.
*Thur 28th November - Members Q&A session with Prof Martin Hendry (start time tbc)
Fri 29th November - "An Astronomer’s Guide to the Periodic Table" - Prof Martin Hendry. will give this talk celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table of Elements (IYPT 2019)
*Fri 6th Dec - Members Moon & Mince Pies Event
More details for each event will be posted in due course on the news page of this website. All events are at 7pm in the Castlehill Heritage Centre, Castletown unless stated otherwise.
Astronomical Events to Observe
There are also the following astronomical events that weather permitting members may wish to view. If the weather looks favourable nearer the time of each, arrangements might be made for members to meet up and observe the event. Members should check their emails nearer the time for details.
*Mon 21st Jan - Members Observing/Photo Opportunity - Total Lunar Eclipse before sunrise
*Tue 16th July - Members Observing/Photo Opportunity - Partial Eclipse at Sunset/Moonrise
*Mon 11th November - Members Observing/Photo Opportunity - Transit of Mercury (approx noon-4pm)
