CDAA

The Annual Quiz hosted by Bill Violen

This quiz has become a regular Pre-Christmas event Local Newspaper Report where our members split into teams, test their memories of past presentations togther with their astronomical and general scientific knowledge compete for simple prizes. It is light-hearted and lots of fun. .

The Andromeda Galaxy by Bob Leon

The Andromeda Galaxy is a member of the Local Group. to which our own Milky Way Galaxy belongs. This is to be a discussion of the Andromeda galaxy’s history, a comparison with own own ‘Milky Way’ galaxy Local Newspaper Report and a review of the most recent discoveries made.

The Annual General Meeting

The procedings of the A.G.M. are to be dealt with swiftly so as to allow our secretary David Pugh to give the main presentation for the evening.

Ice Worlds of the Kuiper Belt
by David Pugh

Recent discoveries of relatively large bodies orbiting the solar system have given rise to the need to re-evaluate definition of a planet. Local Newspaper Report In a blaze of publicity, Pluto was demoted from a 'Planet' to a 'Dwarf Planet'. These bodies appear to have originated in the Kuiper Belt.

Special Guest Speaker: Jerry Workman

The Mars Rovers

It had been expected that this mission's likely lifetime would be about three months. Seven and a half years later, it is still on-going. Local Newspaper Report, Jerry will give an update on the travels of 'Spirit' and 'Opportunity' together with a review of the geological findings and analysis..

Famous Astronomers - The Herschels Part I by David Peck

David will give a presentation discussing William and Caroline Herschel's family history together with the astronomical achievements Local Newspaper Report of this famous brother and sister team. Their contributions to the field are remarkable.

Is Anyone Out There? by David Peachey

The presentation is likely to take the form of a debate.Local Newspaper Report Various aspects of this question will be covered including it's history, timescales, the inevitability of contact, the difficulties faced in making contact, why there has been no sign of other civilisations and of course, how unique the conditions required for life (particularly Intelligent life) are. It is far from a simple, straightforward question to answer and the debate is likely to leave the audience with uncertainties.

Special Guest Speaker: Jerry Workman

The South Pacific Eclipse

A number of Jerry's most recent travels to see eclipses were clouded out. Local Newspaper Report However, this time at the total eclipse scheduled for 11th July 2010, viewed from the French Polynesian Islands he was lucky to see it in all it’s glory. Although he eventually viewed the event from a Pacific atoll named Hao, his travels took him to Easter Island and Tahiti.

Time by Bill Violen

Aspects of time will be discussed including the different ways in which Time is represented in culture. Local Newspaper Report There will be poems, scientific definitions, jokes and comments quoted. For ancient civilisations, time was marked by vast cycles of events that had a never ending quality. The question ‘How old is the Earth?’ for instance was considered meaningless and not even posed.

The International Space Station by Colin John

Colin John who is profoundly deaf, will give a talk on the subject of the International Space Station. Local Newspaper Report Reading from notes, he plans to present a number of photographic images of the station together with a view of the typical astronaut's routine when living there.

The Annual Quiz Hosted by Bill Violen

The club’s Annual Quiz originally planned for the December 2010 meeting will be held on 3rd February 2011. Local Newspaper Report Hosted and set by Bill Violen the questions will have a general theme of astronomy but in addition will be covering areas of history, music, events, famous people and general knowledge.

Apollo14 - The Anniversary by David Pugh

The planned presentation for this meeting had to be cancelled. There has been little time to arrange an alterbative. At short notice, Local Newspaper Report David has stepped in and intends to give a talk on the 1971 Apollo 14 mission to the Moon to celebrate its 40th anniversary