SIGMA EVENTS PROGRAMME FOR 2010
Meetings are held at Birnie Village Hall near Elgin. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Non-members are always welcome and refreshments are provided (for a small donation).
Sigma regularly holds public observing sessions at its dark site outside Elgin. Visit our Upcoming Events page to see what we have planned.
The programme for 2011 is already underway, click here for a sneak preveiew.
Fri 8th January: CANCELLED DUE TO POOR WEATHER
Fri 5th February: Dr John Reid - Aberdeen University
Dr Reid will be giving us a talk on the history of the telescope, from its first astronomical use by Harriot and Galileo to the present day, celebrating just over 400 years since its invention.
Friday 5th March: One Sky Many Monuments - Robert Huges (Uni of Glasgow)
Robert Hughes will be taking us back into the distant past to explain how our ancestors viewed the night sky during the Neolithic age. He will also talk about the monuments they built to measure and worship the movement of the heavens above them.
Fri 2nd April: Bill Leslie - The Moon (Sigma)
A personal pictorial tour of the Moon, showing not just what can be seen but why we see what we see
Friday 7th May: Our Changed Perception of the Solar System - Graham Young (Uni of Dundee)
Graham Young from the University of Dundee will be explaining why and how our understanding of the Solar System has changed over the centuries.
Friday 4th June: - Annual General Meeting
A chance to recap up on what Sigma has been doing in 2009/2010, Committee elections and a look forward to the rest of the year.
Friday 2nd July: How the Sun Got Its Spots - Brian Kelly (Dundee)Sigma favourite Brian Kelly from Discovery Dundee returns with another fascinating sun talk. Brian will tell us the story of astronomers who, from their records of sunspot observations, were able to deduce the workings of the sun.
Friday 6th August: The Sun - Lyn Smith (CAS, BAA Solar Section)
Lyn Smith is the Solar Section Director of the BAA and will be discussing the sun when observed in White Light and H-Alpha.
Friday 3rd September: Final Mission to Hubble - Chris Stradling (Sigma)
Sigma member Chris Stradling will be reviewing and reliving the STS-125 mission in May 2009 which was the final service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Friday 1st October: Equipment and Observing Night
A chance to try out astronomical equipment with someone on hand to explain how it works and what it can do. John Burns from Strathspey Binoculars will be joining us again to display is fantastic wares and the whole evening will be rounded off with an observing session (weather permitting).
Friday 5th Novemer: Is there Anybody Out There? - Stewart Argo (Sigma)
Sigma member Stewart Argo explores the myths and realities of extra terrestrial life. Can we really be alone, is there anybody out there?
Friday 3rd December - Sigma Quiz, Sigma members & families! (CANCELLED due to bad weather)
Yet another night of fun and mince pies to finish off 2010.