Archive | News
May 27, 2022 Monthly Meeting
This meeting will start at 19.00 sharp as our speaker must catch the last Yarmouth ferry back to the mainland.
Please be at the pavilion in plenty of time for a prompt start đ
April 22nd 2022 Monthly Meeting
Despite earlier advertising that this meeting would be our first “in person meeting”, sorry but we have had to return to ZOOM for this month.
Neither the Observatory nor the Pavilion will be open on Friday 22nd April 2022. Sorry to all hoping to attend, the situation changed too late for us to arrange anything else but ZOOM.
All members should have received email notification of this meeting along with login instructions.
Sorry!
Observatory Re-Opens
I am very pleased to announce that the Observatory will be open again from
Thursday 27th January 2022.
If you intend to visit us and are NOT A MEMBER
please let me know (email below) so we can be sure not to exceed sensible attendance levels
Please bring a face-mask with you
director@wightastronomy.org
Thursday 20th January 2022
EasyFundRaising
Did you know that you can support Vectis Astronomical Society by shopping online?
Every time you shop online via easyfundraising at one of the 3,300 retailers including John Lewis, Aviva, Sainsburyâs and Booking.com, a donation will be made to VAS, and it wonât cost you a penny extra.
Itâs really simple to get started;Â Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ and sign up for free.
Get shopping â your donations will be collected by easyfundraising and automatically sent to VAS. It couldnât be easier!
There are no catches or hidden charges and we will be really grateful for your donations.
Thank you for your support.
A Fantastic Moon Picture
Regulars at the observatory will have seen a fair few photos from Simon Plumley. There is no doubt that his views of planets and nebulae are among, if not the best taken by anyone on the Island. Tonight Simon showed a photo of something he openly admits he had previously hated, that thing being the moon.
Well, I’ll let you judge, but I think that this is one of his very best.
Now a little warning! It may take a while for you to see this image as it’s over 110Mb and has an original size of 6120 x 6394 pixels. Believe me it’s worth the wait….
Click here to see the picture.
Technical Details
- The picture was started on 30th Dec 2014
- The picture is made from 60 videos of 2400 frames each = 144,000 frames
- Each video is quality sorted and about 40% of he frames are stacked per video to make 60 single pictures
- These were stitched together to make mosaic
- Cloud hindered the captures so it took 3 hours to video and then well over a week to process and put together
- The final output image with no resizing is 2.25 meters long
- The video camera was only 0.9 megapixels
- Telescope was 2,800mm however the small camera used gave a field of view/magnification equivalent of around 13,000 mm
- Moon was 53% illuminated
Appeal for content…
I have just added a few pages to the site under the “Resources” menu and now I need content to fill them. The intention being to create a section where visitors can find useful and entertaining information about astronomy.
If you have any of the following you’d like to see published then please contact me:
- Pictures (you can have a whole gallery if you like!)
- Practical projects you have undertaken
- Software recommendations and reviews
- Anything other content you think may be usefulâŚ
Of course you are also welcome to let me know about any astronomy related links you would recommend.
John Wilson Smith MBE
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of John Wilson Smith MBE.
A founder member and tireless worker for VAS, John died on Sunday 30th December 2012
John was instrumental in the establishment of the Isle of Wight Observatory in Watery Lane Newchurch and will be remembered fondly by all members of the Society as well as the wider community of Newchurch
A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Pavilion (next to the observatory), on January 24th at 11am, followed by a family only interment at Springwood Cemetery
Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, FRS, FRAS (4 Mar 1923 â 9 Dec 2012)
The BBC has just announced the death of Sir Patrick Moore
A group of his friends and staff said in a statement the broadcaster âpassed away peacefully at 12.25pm this afternoonâ. It added: âAfter a short spell in hospital last week, it was determined that no further treatment would benefit him, and it was his wish to spend his last days in his own home, Farthings, where he today passed on, in the company of close friends and carers and his cat Ptolemy”.
Anyone with even a passing knowledge or interest in astronomy will surely know the important contribution Sir Patrick made during his life – His Wikipedia entry tells the story far better than I ever will.
Sir Patrick, an honorary member of the Vectis Astronomical Society for many years, will be sadly missed by astronomers everywhere.
Roger Hayward (1942-2010)
It is with deep sadness that Vectis Astronomical Society announces the death of long-serving member and Observatory Director Roger Hayward.
Roger died at St Maryâs Hospital on 21st January. The Isle of Wight County Press obituary is available  here.
The funeral service will be held at St Blasius Church, Church Road, Shanklin on February 3rd. at 2pm, followed by a private service at the crematorium.