British Deaf Astronomical Association

MDAS Showcase

We would like to announce that we are excited to hear that David Kettle and Godfrey Palmer of Midlands Deaf Astronomical Society (MDAS) will be presenting a showcase entitled “Astronomy for Everyone” at Peterborough and District Deaf Children’s Society Family Fun Day at Jack Hunt School, Peterborough on Saturday 19th May 2012.

David and Godfrey will have a stall and they will give a few talks on astronomy and science to groups of deaf students and other visitors attending to the PDDCS Family Fun Day. David Kettle would be more than happy if you can help and support him and Godfrey Palmer with running their showcase. If you are interested in helping them, please contact David Kettle before going to the event.

Astro Adventures – Messier ‘March Hare’ Marathon!
BDAA organised some of our members to a running trip to AstroAdventures in Devon during 2nd week of March for 1 week. The main theme was Messier Marathon.

The night skies were generally good with one night a very good condition for Messier Marathon. They observed 78 Messier objects out of 110 Messier list in a single night from 8pm to 4.37am!! A wow factor and a great achievement! Well done to them! They missed the rest of Messier objects only because the objects were either too low or obstructed by high trees. When it got too cloudy for observing, they set up quiz sessions!

They saw other Deep Sky Objects such as galaxies in Virgo-Coma Cluster and Leo’s underbelly; they also said ‘Eagle Nebula‘ (M16) was awesome especially with the 3 famous columns: Pillars of Creation; they also saw M83 a face-on galaxy in Hydra which was very low. They also witnessed Zodical Light (photo) – quite a rare event!

The telescope they used was AstroAdventures’ own 20″ (f5.8) reflecting Dobsonian telescope, aided with a “Sky Vector” GOTO remote control. David Kettle also brought his own 10″ reflecting telescope (Dobsonian). Other equipment they used are binoculars which are very useful, digital cameras; they also used AstroAdventures’s own Coronado PST to observe the sun safely.

The members also went out during the day to sightsee at various spots such as Tintagel Castle and Bude including a 6-mile rambling and a few trips to pub for meal!
(Click below for the linked to see some photos.)

Photos
BDAA members at AstroAdventures.
Bude
Tintagel Castle

New New New…
We have uploaded their photographs to our NEW Members Photo Album designed for any photographs in general. Any kind of photographs in relating to BDAA events or members’ own photos taken at home or anywhere – anything – will be submitted into that new album whilst any best hotshots astrophotos will go into Members’ Hotshots Photo Gallery.

We hope you will enjoy more in browsing our website.

We wish a very nice Easter weekend.

AstroFest 2012
At least 15 Deaf members attended one of our annual BDAA running trips to AstroFest at Kensington & Chelsea Town Hall on Friday 10th February 2011. Plus a few went back there on the next day: Saturday 11th February 2012, just to see Sir Patrick Moore and Brian May CBE plus few other celebrities: Pete Lawrence, Paul Abel and of course Jon Culshaw!

Varnham’s Orrey
As usual, Jack Varnham done one of his daring feats again at the age of 83, he brought his own build large orrey to AstroFest 2012 to show to Sir Patrick Moore and the celebrities in a special function room. Derek Rowley accompanied Jack Varnham in that room so he was also able to meet and chat with the celebrities.

Michael Matson from Guildford, one of our members commented:
“It looks different every year. This year focuses mainly on astrophotography and CCD technology. There is a separate room where STFC (The Science and Technology Facilities Council) exhibits their own exhibition. I find their demonstrations very interesting. They took a photograph of me holding one mug of cold liquid and one mug of hot liquid, in infra-red light and I got a copy of it”.

More Photos
Click here for browsing the photos of AstroFest 2012.

Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash!

We received an email from BBC See Hear team today. BDAA in conjunction with Royal Observatory Greenwich, we are pleased to announce that the BBC See Hear filming of the ’Deaf Astronomy Day‘ to celebrate our association’s 10th anniversary on December 3rd 2011 will be broadcasted on Wednesday 1st February 2012 at 1pm. Go and set your reminders on ‘red alert‘!  We hope you will enjoy the programme about BDAA & ROG’s Deaf Astronomy Day!

Welcome to 2012
BDAA have some upcoming events in the next few months.
Also it is time to renew your membership for the year 2012.

Membership 2012
Please renew your membership (BDAA 2012 application form can be downloaded here). Please send the form and the cheque to Angela Burgess, our BDAA membership officer. Once you have joined membership, you will receive BDAA 2012 Handbook and also you will receive monthly ‘Derekscope’ via email. (See an example of Derekscope’s monthly.)

AstroFest 2012 – Friday 10th February
This year, BDAA members will meet at Kensington & Chelsea Town Hall for one of our annual running trips to AstroFest. Please note the door price is now £6.00.

AstroAdventures – March 2012
BDAA have booked 2 chalets at AstroAdventurse in North Devon for one week from Saturday 17th March 2012 until Saturday 24th March 2012. Please come and join us! If you would like to book, please complete the application form <download here>.
(Closing date: Wednesday 29th February 2012).

Regional Deaf Astronomical Societies in UK
They have uploaded their new programmes for the year 2012. You will find the programmes on the links on the right hand side.

BBC See Hear
Hopefully, BDAA’s Deaf Astronomy Day at Royal Observatory Greenwich will be shown on SeeHear on 25th January 2012 on BBC2 at 1pm- still to be confirmed so watch this space.

BBC StarGazing Live 2012
It is on this week, starting from Monday 16th January 2012 for 3 days on BBC2 at 8pm for 2 episodes per night. Professor Brian Cox and Dara O’Briain will be presenting the live programme from Jordell Bank Observatory Centre.
For more BBC StarGazing Live information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/stargazing/