The programme for 2020 is below.
Check back regularly in case any dates or times change. Note that event cancellations will be marked by scored through text.
Unfortunately Covid-19 restrictions and government recommendations of avoiding all unnecessary social contact mean we can no longer gather for our meetings as usual. This has led to most of our scheduled events being cancelled this year.
We have however been running online events where possible. These virtual meetings (primarily be for CAG members) will continue until restrictions are lifted permitting people to attend our sessions again in person.
For updates on any CAG online meetings available to the public please visit the CAG facebook page.
One bonus of the use of online meetings has been the ability to collaborate with, and join the meetings of other astronomical groups in the north of Scotland (HAS, SIGMA, AAS & NRAG).
CAG Programme of Events for 2020
*Members events are asterixed
*Fri 24th January - Members Dark Skies Event - Winter Observing Opportunities, Misc Space News & "Nucleosynthesis of the Chemical Elements in Massive Stars" (G Mackie)
*Fri 21st February - Members Dark Skies Event - "Mars Colonisation" (C Wilhelm)
Visiting the Royal Observatory Greenwich (G Mackie)
Sat 22nd February - AGM (10.30am Pentland Hotel, Thurso)
Caithness Science Festival Events
Fri 13th March - "What has space ever done for us? A guide to astronomy and space exploration in 8 technologies” - M Vidmar (ROE)
Sat 14th March - Family activities then interactive presentation "What are they really doing up there?" - M Vidmar (ROE) - (1pm Wick High School)
Sat 21st March - Science Festival Family Fun Day (noon-4.30pm Wick High School)
*Fri 27th March - Observing Moon & Venus; Astrophotography Workshop
*Sat 28th - Members Observing / Photography Event at Dunnet Head Lighthouse
Fri 24th April - "Weird Stars" - P Macrae (HAS)
May - Observing Transient Events - D Buczynski
*Fri 12th June - Members Event
Sat 5th September - CAG at the Orkney International Science Festival
Fri 18th September - "Celebrating 30 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope" - various CAG members
Fri 9th October - Members event
Fri 13th November - "Mary Somerville and Williamina Paton Fleming" (C Whittaker); "Practical Astronomy through the Ages" (M Gibson)
*Fri 11th December - Members Meteors & Mince Pies Event; "Far Side of the Moon" (Prof K Nicholson)
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.
Astronomy enthusiasts may also wish to take note that the British Astronomical Association Summer Meeting will take place in the north of Scotland on 4th July this year. It will be hosted by SIGMA - Moray's Astronomy Club, at Moray Colleg UHI. Although Elgin is quite a distance from Caithness, there will be a number of prominent guest speakers at the event, so depending on your interests it may be well worth the trip.
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.
Jan 10th (Fri) - Penumbral lunar eclipse (evening)
Feb 11th (Tues) - Asteroidal Occultation (Vesta)
Aug 11th (Tues) - Perseids
Dec 20th (Sun) - Jupiter/Saturn conjunction at sunset
See flyer below.....
