The next AAS meeting will be on the Monday the 27^th of Feb.  Usual time & place:-

7:30pm  :  upstairs in the Hen & Chicks, Flannel St., Abergavenny NP7 5EG

The topic is likely to be an exploration of what happens as our sun ages towards its red star phase.  In particular – how will the earth fare – will it survive – how long have we got (spoiler-  plenty of time for us!)

Hi all, Nick has updated the message on the website:-

This meeting rescheduled for Monday 30^th January

Time and venue remain the same, i.e. 7:30pm at the Hen & Chicks.
Apologies for the change but hope to see you there.  Nick will be giving a talk entitled “Big bang to diamond rings” which is a look at how the elements in our Universe were formed and their long and tortuous journey to being found on the surface of the Earth. This will be a talk in the back-to basics series and aimed at all levels but particularly beginners.

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is currently visiting the inner solar system.
It is estimated to have last been here 50,000 years ago, ie at the time when the Neanderthals were roaming the land.  So, this is the first time that Homo Sapiens will have seen it.
Some have speculated that this comet originated in the Oort Cloud, the theoretical sphere of debris some 50,000 to 100,000 AU from the sun, 1-2 light years.
It is likely to be at its brightest at the end of January, beginning of Feb and is predicted to be easily seen with binoculars, and maybe also the naked eye. 
No doubt the observers in our membership will be able to advise how best to sight it but a screen shot from the video on space.com (LINK) shows where it will be during January.  There are also many other sites on the web were you can read up about C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

Each year at Christmas Usk Astronomical Society holds the “Mike Thomas Lecture” in memory of a very long standing member and supporter of the Society that passed away around 5 years ago. It is traditional that members of other local astronomical societies are invited to the event which is on Thursday 15th December at 7:30 in the Grange Social club, Maryport Street, Usk. Wayne Jones from Heads of the Valleys AS will give a talk on the demands that space travel puts on the human body. This is as much a social event as it is a lecture and there will also be a buffet. There is no charge for the evening but if any member intends to go please let Nick Busby know by emailing  Observing@AbergavennyAS.org.uk before Monday. This is simply so that we know how many to cater for.

Mars has just passed opposition, that means when it is at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit, so it is presently very bright in the southern sky and very hard to miss on a clear night. At just before 4am tomorrow morning, Thursday December 8th, the Moon passes in front of the planet. This is called an “occultation”, a rare event particularly when Mars is as its brightest until 2033. It will be a great sight in binoculars and a super photo opportunity. The image below shows a screen shot of a simulation of the occulation from Stellarium. Mars will emerge about an hour later at 5:56 am. The forecast is clear, so set your alarm clock!

Interesting Dark Matter session on Monday.  Lots of questions but no conclusions of substance!
For those who may be interested I have loaded the presentation used up on to the “Downloads” page LINK
Next meeting will be on Monday the 23^rd January.

Have a Good Christmas and New Year

Nadolig Llawen  –  Blwyddyn Newydd Dda