A talk by Nick James Director of the comet section of BAA.

Report of the meeting written up by Rob Maclagan from notes taken by Michael Reakes.

Nick gave an interesting talk to the Society at a recent Priory Street event. He showed how, originally, meteors were recorded visually, then by film photography, and now using digital cameras, including standard CCTV. Modern cameras mean that video footage can be shot in real time at high quality. Although these are currently expensive, CCTV and other cameras are affordable to amateurs and astronomical societies. Using software, data can be uploaded to sites, contributing to the recording of meteors. It also possible to use radio equipment to ‘see’ meteors.

The Society’s first crescent moon watch (Saturday 6 April 2019)

York Astronomical Society’s first crescent moon watch at Beetle Bank Farm near York was a big success – just a pity the weather didn’t oblige by giving us a clear view! The event was a Society initiative with the local Islamic community for whom the crescent moon is of religious importance. It was a trial run for what is hoped will become a regular event.

Inclement weather threatened us at the start of the day, but it eventually turned sunny. There was a good turnout of volunteers and a number of tasks completed. After setting the world to rights we started work. We were refuelled at lunchtime by some great bacon and sausage baps from Angela.

Talk by David Cook at Priory Street, 1 March 2019.

There is more to sundials than things plonked in a garden on screwed to a church wall and you would be surprised how accurate they can be.