PREVIEW
Pictures: Graham Green Words: Martin Saban-Smith
MoonFest 2010 - Alton The evening of Sunday 5th April 2009 was almost cloudless as
Magnus and Clavius. We were also kept coming out of the dark from showing
many
other
interesting all directions after folk already there
surface features as well as explaining made phone calls to friends to come about the relationship between the and see.
Hampshire based astronomy group Earth and the Moon. Not to mention One of the telescopes was connected HantsAstro launched its MoonFest showing visitors how the ‘scopes to a webcam and laptop computer to roadshow on The Butts Green and work and the different types available. allow for group observing, such was French Horn Pub.
There was a really good, fun vibe and the popularity of the event. a great air of expectation, I thoroughly ‘Saturn just looks like a star normally,
The Moon was clear and bright in the enjoyed it!’
sky from early on in the evening when The event was also supported by but through the telescopes, I could people started arriving to have a look astronomy
shop, Astronomia
in clearly see the rings and some of its
through 10 of the club’s telescopes Dorking. Managing Director, Neil moons, which was really interesting. from as early as 7 o’clock.
Phillipson commented on what a Our Moon looked magnificent too. success the evening had been and There were lots of people there and
Each of the telescopes was manned showed an interest in holding a similar everyone seemed to be enjoying by one of HantsAstro’s members and event around the Dorking area.
themselves’, said Alton resident, Mike
specially prepared Moon maps were
Abbott.
available for people to use to see An astrophotography talk by Martin where they were looking through the Saban-Smith in the skittle alley at the The curious nature of the event telescopes. Several members of the French Horn drew its own crowd carried on at the French Horn during public, including our own town Mayor, of 30 or so people and saw Martin the evening with chilly first-time brought along their own telescopes talking about how to capture images astronomers warming themselves by to do some observing of their own!
from objects in the sky invisible to the fire with a pint and discussing what the naked eye with and without a they had seen with their friends and
‘Across the course of the evening, we telescope. There were also many of learning more by talking to members had about 160 people, young and old his recent images to see. come along to have a look through our ‘scopes and I think they were all As the Sun sank below the horizon, impressed with what they saw’ said the views of the Moon just got better Martin Saban-Smith, HantsAstro’s and better. When it was completely media officer.‘The best features of the dark, some of the telescopes turned Moon to look at were the Apollo 11 their attention to Saturn and wowed landing site in the Sea of Tranquillity visitors with views of the ringed from 40 years ago this year, the Bay planet and the moons Enceladus, of Rainbows, the Sea of Rains along Titan, Dione plus others. Interested with the craters of Plato, Copernicus, people braved the chilly evening and
08
Look Up! March 2010
of the HantsAstro team.
2010 MoonFests are subject to change, so check the website for dates and times. Next due is Sunday 21st March 2010 at 7pm at The Butts, Alton, Hants http://www.moonfest.org