South Lincolnshire Astronomical & Geophysical Society
Solags/Spalding Astro

Bradford Robotic Telescope

2012 will be marked by a major astronomical event: the Transit of Venus. This is where Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. It is very rare; it will not occur again for 105 years. It is an amazing sight to see - another world moving across the face of the Sun. In 1769 measurements of the transit taken by Captain Cook in Tahiti and other astronomers nearer to the UK enabled us to calculate the size of the solar system for the first time. To celebrate this event, the Bradford Robotic Telescope is aiming to recreate this famous experiment with measurements taken by amateur astronomers from all over the world.

We have set up a site which is specially designed to help young (and not so young) observers, their parents and teachers to observe the event and share their measurements with others across the planet and together calculate the size of the solar system. We would like you to be a part of our global project and take your own measurements of the transit and input them into the site. You will be able to share your data with others from across the planet and help make a new calculation of the size of our local universe.

Click here for more information to join us and be part of this amazing experiment.

Are we living in a Black Hole? - Jeff Powell

Friday 18th June at Pinchbeck

Black Holes are ubiquitous. There is probably a super-massive one at the heart of every galaxy. Astronomers have imaged one at the centre of our galaxy, devouring a swirling cloud of gas. This is merely a hiccup. The chances of encountering a black hole are infinitessimal. The most dangerous ones are so small; and space is so vast; one could pass quite close, and not be detected. However, if you did meet one... Bye-bye.

There is a whole range of Active Galaxies, reflecting the wide range of SMBs at the heart of each one. But is there a possibility of even bigger black holes? Undoubtably YES. The larger the black hole; the more benign the Inner space will appear. It is even possible to exist inside one without even being aware.

Venus Transit

Wednesday 6th June from 4:30am at Fosdyke Nature Reserve

8" Celestron; Solarscope; webcam etc

When Venus passes directly between earth and the sun, we see the distant planet as a small dot gliding slowly across the face of the sun. This rare alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system. The most recent transit of Venus was a thrilling sight in 2004. After the June 2012 transit of Venus, the next such alignment occurs in 2117.