Rugby and District

[BobSki]

Does anyone know if the Rugby and District Astro Society is still functioning?

I sent a contact via their website earlier (a few days before the Lyrids) but have heard nothing back.

[ronin]

Looks like they have a talk planned in May:

Sunday 17 May 2015 Prof. Jerry Stone: Is Pluto A Planet?

So it seems they are active(ish).

Site only has the one meeting in the Events, but someone has put a March Skymap up so they were doing something March and plan something May.

Does seem they work close with the Coverntry and Warwickshire Astro group as they share observing with them.

Will ask about your spam filter as I see Rugby use Hotmail and Hotmail seems treated as spam by many filters and email providers, even if it is not.

[jkwhinfrey]

Hi BobSki,

I see you're in Daventry, snap!

I attended one of their meetings at Church Lawford at the end of last year and things seemed fine then. No reason to suspect that they've gone anywhere in the intervening period.

They do some observing at Barby Cricket Club during the winter, which I've yet to attend despite being just a few miles up the road. I think the observing sessions there and with Coventry and Warwickshire have come to an with BST so the events calendar is looking more blank than usual. I think they were founded by Coventry and Warwickshire AS members and the link's remained. Quite a few are members of both I suspect.

If you turn up to the meeting noted by Ronin I'd expect them to be there. It's a nice venue with plenty of parking.

James

[BobSki]

Hi Guys,

I thought they should be still active as it was one of their listings regarding the Lyrids that I contacted them about. They mentioned on their website an observing eveining on Wednesday for the Lyrids at Barby but I didn't know where in Barby they met, so I asked if I could tag along. with no response I just sat out in my garden. I checked my spam filter but there's now't in it.

Small world James do you go to any star parties or astro evenings?

Thanks guys

Bob

[jkwhinfrey]

Not star parties Bob, I'm another back garden based astronomer.

I will make the effort to wander up to Barby next season, I asked at the last meeting I attended, and it seems all are welcome, member or not.

At the risk of sounding like I'm poaching, I'm hoping to organise a few observing meetings for the Northamptonshire Natural History Society (NNHS) astronomy section where I'm the secretary. We have a meeting for the Perseids every year which normally ends up at Pitsford reservoir near Holcot, but it'd be good to hold some during the darker months too.

As for indoor astronomy meetings I'm kind of obliged to turn up at the NNHS and I've been to a few of Rugby's too. There are lots of good speakers around and both Societies run a "try before you buy" policy.

I know you'd be welcome in Northampton, and I'm sure it'd be the same in Church Lawford.

James

[BobSki]

I don't think you're poaching James, just making me aware of the options and being very helpful, thank you. I'll be taking a further look at both, so many thanks and all the best

Bob

[ringz]

I was at the last meeting on the 19th of April. There is quite a good attendance.

Martyn.

[BobSki]

Thanks Martyn